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6.9 FLASH FIrES
A flash fire is a small fire burned quickly when you don't need much heat. After your kindling has "caught", load
at least 3 pieces of wood, stacked loosely. burn with the draft control fully open or closed only slightly.
A flash fire is created by igniting a very loosely stacked pile of kindling (typically but not restricted to wood
with a cross section less than 1” X 1” (25 mm X 25 mm)). A major characteristic of a flash fire is that the wood
is piled in such a way that the volume of the fuel pile can consist of as much if not more air space as there is
wood fuel. The intensity of the flash fire can be greatly increased if supply of combustion air is increased (fire-
box or ash doors left open during fire). Although small flash fires are a part of developing a charcoal bed when
starting the furnace up from a cold start they can create unsafe operating conditions, damage to the furnace
and void all warranties. flash fires may only be used when starting the furnace from a cold start and the fuel
stack should never occupy more than 1/3 of the firebox volume. do not create or maintain flash fires once the
furnace is capable of sustaining operating using regular full size wood in tightly packed bundles. never create
a flash fire during a power out condition, damage to the furnace is likely and all warranties will be void. Typical
symptoms of flash fires which have caused over firing include glowing furnace components and melted exterior
paint.
A bed of ashes approximately 1" (25 mm) deep should be left on the firebox bottom to help maintain a hot charcoal
bed. When the fire has burned down and cooled, remove any excess ashes. To remove the ash, follow the directions
below.
A.
After the last coal has extinguished, let the appliance cool at least two hours.
B.
open the firebox door.
C.
use fireplace shovel to scrape ashes off firebox floor. Place the ashes into a steel, container with a
tightly fitting lid. other waste shall not be placed in this container. cover the container with the lid and
move the container away from the appliance onto a suitable non-combustible surface outdoors where
the ashes can safely cool away from any combustibles. dispose of the ashes.
6.10 ASH rEmOvAL PrOCEdurES
IMpROpER DIspOsAL OF AsHEs REsULT IN FIREs. DO NOT DIsCARD AsHEs IN CARDBOARD
BOxEs, DUMp IN BACk YARDs, OR sTORE IN gARAgEs.
IF UsINg A vACUUM TO CLEAN Up AsHEs, BE sURE THE AsHEs ARE ENTIRELY COOLED. UsINg A
vACUUM TO CLEAN Up wARM AsHEs COULD CAUsE A FIRE INsIDE THE vACUUM.
DURINg A pOwER OUTAgE DO NOT CREATE A FLAsH FIRE CONDITION, DAMAgE TO FURNACE
AND pROpERTY MAY REsULT.
