It’s that time of year again, when we start firing up fireplaces and wood stoves. That means chimney safety should be a priority. Before starting up the fireplace for the first time each year, you should always check to make sure that your chimney is ready for use. In the United States, there are over 22,000 fires on average each year related to home heating. Creosote that builds up in the chimney is highly combustible. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 150 people die on average per year from carbon monoxide poisoning related to the use of fireplaces when the chimney isn’t working correctly caused by lack of maintenance.