Tree in Fireplace Ignites Roof, Destroying Home

A Christmas tree burned in a fireplace ignited a wood shingle roof Friday and destroyed an Anaheim Hills home, the sixth house fire in Orange County since Christmas Eve.

Firefighters said the owner of the Anaheim Hills home, George Geronsin, put the tree in the fireplace about 11:30 a.m. As he and his wife cleaned house on the first floor of their two-story home, they noticed embers blowing around in the backyard.

After seeing that their roof was on fire, the couple delayed calling the Fire Department and tried to put the fire out with a garden hose, firefighters said.

By the time help arrived, the entire second story was engulfed in flames, authorities said. It took 45 firefighters 30 minutes to put out the blaze, which caused an estimated $300,000 damage. Nobody was injured, officials said.

Fire officials warn that placing Christmas trees in fireplaces is extremely dangerous.

“Christmas trees are absolutely not something that should be put in the fireplace,” said Anaheim Fire Division Chief Roger Smith. “They are highly flammable and volatile, they put off a lot of heat, and fireplaces are not designed to hold that.”

Earlier Friday, fire damaged a house at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The family, which Marine fire officials did not identify, was away on vacation when the fire broke out at 8:39 a.m., apparently in the kitchen. Authorities say the fire was probably caused by a short circuit from a small household appliance.

Nearly half of the house was destroyed, causing about $80,000 worth of damage, officials said.

Friday’s blazes followed a string of home fires Thursday that left one man seriously injured and several people homeless.

At 8:44 a.m. Thursday, a fire began in a bedroom closet of the Paradise Guest Homes, a home for Alzheimer’s patients, and quickly spread to a bedroom and hallway, officials said.

The residents were quickly evacuated by the apartment manager, and firefighters extinguished the fire within 20 minutes. Fire officials said the fire is of suspicious origin and under investigation.

In Buena Park, another home burned after the owner, Abel Muniz, stuffed a natural gas fireplace with Christmas wrappings, causing an explosion, authorities said. Muniz suffered second-degree burns on his chest, arms and face. His wife and two children escaped unharmed.

In Irvine, another home caught fire when a spark from a synthetic log fanned by gusty winds ignited the roof. All four family members escaped unharmed, but the fire caused $170,000 worth of damage.

And in Tustin, a fire that authorities say was also caused by a spark from the fireplace destroyed the roof and attic.

Fire officials cautioned residents to use fireplaces for their intended purposes and to keep them well maintained, particularly the spark arrester, which should be replaced every year to prevent rusting.

In addition, residents may want to replace their wood shingle roofs with a nonflammable material, officials said.

Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Capt. Ron Brown said every home should have at least one working smoke detector and a well-planned fire exit drill.

“Residential fires still contribute to a significant amount of deaths nationwide,” Brown said.

Fire officials say they are expecting a dose of Santa Ana winds in addition to cooler temperatures in the upcoming, which could make fires more difficult to control.

“The biggest concern will be that people don’t burn anything in their fireplace other than wood designed for that,” said Garden Grove Fire Battalion Chief Nick Booker. “Do not burn your Christmas trees. Just use caution when burning, and don’t leave fireplaces unattended.”

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Fireproofing Tips

Some simple guidelines will help ensure a safe home:

* Have a functioning smoke detector outside each living area. They should be tested once a month. Replace batteries once a year. If you can’t remember when you last bought a battery, buy one now. (Most residential fires happen between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.)

* Have an exit drill. Identify two emergency exits and rehearse regularly. Identify a centralized meeting point outside the home. And once you leave, do not go back in.

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Three fires on Christmas were related to fireplaces or faulty chimneys. How to avoid problems:

* Have chimneys inspected by a professional chimney sweep after each season. Check for buildup of creosote, obstructions such as bird nests or leaves, and cracks or crumbling mortar from settling or earthquakes. Also check to be sure that spark arresters are adequate and in place.

* Never burn wrapping paper, Christmas trees or other trash, which is extremely flammable and can explode in flames. Never use lighter fluid to start a fire.

* Keep children away from a fire.

* Always use a metal screen or glass doors, and keep the damper open until all ashes are cold. Be sure the fire is out before leaving the house or going to bed.

* Keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher in the house.

Source: Orange County Fire Authority