Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: fireplaces

[R.N. Johnson (cohoranda]

Toddlers and freestanding wood stoves are a bad mix- my mother in law has one 
and we've had a close shave or two despite the chicken wire cage she puts 
around it when the kids are around.

If you go the wood burning route - make sure to have a fool proof chimney 
cleaning schedule- my family had a chimney fire because they forgot to get the 
chimney cleaned and might have lost their house if most of of the volunteer 
fire department hadn't lived within a mile of our house. 

Another thing to consider- burning wood releases a lot of particulate 
pollutants that are hell on wheels to those of us with asthma or other 
respiratory issues.  I grew up with a wood stove and was amazed at how much my 
breathing improved when I left home. The gas fireplaces don't seem to cause the 
same trouble. 
Randa Johnson
New Brighton Cohousing
Aptos, CA