Logs and other firewood like kindling which are low in moisture can more readily catch alight. Placing logs or other combustible material too near to heat sources may cause them to ignite, so make sure to store them in a safe place, away from sources of ignition.
Your entire store of firewood should be kept separate from the room where your wood burner is situated, usually outside or in a garage, but a small quantity of firewood can be kept indoors if it has already dried. Storing a small amount of firewood indoors makes refuelling your stove a lot easier, but there are some safety tips to follow:
Do not store firewood near your wood burner – storing combustibles near your stove, even when it is not in use, is extremely dangerous. Keep your firewood away from any heat sources to prevent the risk of ignition. The manufacturer’s instructions for your stove will contain guidance on minimum distance to combustibles, but it is best practice to keep your logs stored as far away as possible.
Only bring wood indoors that will be burned over the next two days – this prevents excessive amounts of wood being kept indoors and increasing the risk of a fire.
Do not store firewood on your wood burner – whilst this may sound like a good way to speed up the drying process, storing firewood on your wood burner is extremely dangerous and can result in the wood setting alight. Combustibles should not be stored on your stove or hearth – including firewood.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if your appliance has an integrated log store – the manufacturer’s instructions will detail appropriate distances and load capacities, keeping you safe and preventing the risk of a fire.
