FIREWOOD : A Warm Feeling : Fireplaces are crackling as folks attempt to heat their homes or just create some cozy aesthetics.

Old Man Winter has breezed into Ventura County with a forceful Arctic exhale, and now local residents are kneeling on their hearths--lighted matches in hand--ready to spark a warming stack of firewood.

Fireplaces are crackling as folks attempt to heat their homes or just create some cozy aesthetics. It’s an annual wood-buying frenzy-- brought on by the season’s first cold snap--that sends many in search of a firewood dealer.

“Whenever I see the weather turn bad I think, ‘Oh boy, here we go again, it’s time to get busy,’ ” said Tony Apple, a firewood dealer in Ventura.

Local residents are fortunate that Ventura County is replete with different varieties of wood that are optimal for the fireplace.

Thanks to an abundance of avocado and eucalyptus trees, locals can enjoy firewood prices much more favorable than in other parts of Southern California.

Oak--a prized firewood--was once readily available, but strict laws prohibiting the cutting of oak trees has curtailed supplies. It’s available, but costly. Hilltop Feed & Ranch Store in Thousand Oaks proffers a cord of oak for $280. Add $15 for delivery.

On average, you can expect to pay in the $175 range for a cord for eucalyptus and $120 for avocado. (A cord is a measurement of 8 feet in length, 4 feet in height and 4 feet in width.) Many vendors will also sell half cords and even quarter cords.

The cheapest firewood to be found was free of charge. But you’ll need a truck, saw, splitter and elbow grease to get it. Robin Scheff of Economy Wise Tree Service in Ventura explains: “After we’ve removed a tree, we’ll call and let you know that there’s wood available. I’ll give all the specifics: where it is, how much, what kind of wood. All you have to do is split it up and haul it away,” she said. The tree service is hired to remove eucalyptus, pine, sycamore, ash and other trees from around the county. “We get rid of the trees and it’s not wasted. It’s not filling up the landfills,” she said. Interested? Call 654-1054.

Any extra car or bike parts lying around the garage you don’t need? Give Tom Apple a call. He’ll barter for firewood. “I trade firewood for whatever people might have,” he said. Apple has traded wood in the past to cover his rent, flowers for his girlfriend, bike repair work, you name it. “It’s fun. You got to make it any way you can in ‘90s.” Call him at 643-6013.

So what differentiates one particular kind of firewood from another (besides cost)? Three factors: The amount of heat it generates, how clean it burns and how long it lasts.

Oak, a hardwood, is the king of all three. Eucalyptus--an oily, aromatic hardwood--also burns long, clean and with a good amount of heat. Although avocado burns hot, it doesn’t burn as long.

“Eucalyptus is the best deal for the money,” Apple said.

Apple warned of a bug infestation if your wood stack sits around for an extended period. The bugs, he said, like eucalyptus the least of all wood because of its strong fragrance.

“But they’ll get into all wood,” he said, “especially oak. Let that stuff sit around for a year and it will be full of bugs.”

Whatever type you choose, be sure the wood has been properly seasoned. That’s important if you’ll be burning it this winter. Once cut, all wood needs to be seasoned at least six months before it’s ready for the fireplace.

“Seasoning determines how hot the fire will burn and how much creosote it will create,” said Andrew Davidson, owner of Davidson’s Chimney Sweep in Oxnard.

New-cut wood has more creosote--a tar-like substance that builds up on the wall of the chimney and can be potentially dangerous. A buildup left unchecked can catch fire inside the flue and spread to surrounding areas of the home. Chimney sweeps use a wire brush attached to a long pole to scour the inside walls of the chimney.

“If you’re burning for central heating, you should get it cleaned annually,” said Davidson, who is licensed and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. “In this area a lot of people use their fireplace as a mood-setter only, so they might not need an annual cleaning. The general rule is to have your chimney cleaned after burning a cord of wood.”

As a fire hazard precaution, Davidson said all chimneys should be fitted with a “spark arrester.”

The four-sided, cage-like, metal-mesh screen that sits atop the chimney works best, he said. (A flat piece of screen laid across the chimney opening can easily collect debris and block sparks and smoke from releasing, he said.)

For added protection-- especially if you have a brick chimney--you might want to invest in a “flue cap,” which prevents rain from entering the chimney. “Water will mix with ash and creosote, which in turn will create lye. The lye deteriorates the mortar (between the bricks),” Davidson said.

“I recommend a flue cap, especially if you have a shake roof. It prevents all sparks from coming out.”

Davidson said he and other “sweeps” provide free fireplace and chimney inspections. This entails a top-to-bottom search for problems, such as loose bricks or a defective damper.

BUILDING A BETTER FIRE

Building a proper fire is no small matter. Andrew Davidson, owner of Davidson’s Chimney Sweep in Oxnard, said plenty of people have trouble mastering the skill.

“We get a lot of calls on how to start a fire,” Davidson said.

Davidson suggests that fire builders keep in mind the “burning triangle.”

“A fire needs proper amounts of oxygen, fuel and heat,” he said. “People wonder why their fire smolders for a long period before it starts to rage. Most likely they have piled in four large logs. It doesn’t light because there isn’t enough heat. You first need to start your fire with kindling and then add the logs.”

Beginners should also keep in mind a couple safety tips: “Make sure the damper is open before you light the fire (so the smoke goes up the chimney). Usually you will only forget to do this once,” he said. “If you have a gas line, make sure your matches or lighter are close at hand, ready to spark before turning on the gas.” If not lit right away, gas builds up inside the smoke chamber and you’ll have a small explosion, Davidson said.