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Everyone looks forward to relaxing by a crackling fireplace, with the exception perhaps of Frosty the Snowman. Gathering around the hearth with friends and family at the end of a chilly day is not only traditional but a real treat.

However, unless you fancy watching flames leap onto the carpet followed by screams of horror, it's important to stick to proper fire safety precautions. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, well over a third of residential fires in rural areas annually are due to fireplaces or fuel-fired appliances. That's a lot of preventable fires. Want to avoid becoming a statistic? Follow these simple fire safety tips.

First stop: your local hardware store to invest in some fire safety equipment. Add the below items to your shopping list.

- mesh screen spark arrester to cover the chimney
- metal mesh screen for your fireplace
- metal bucket and shovel to scoop hot ashes
- supporting grate for the logs at the back of the fireplace
- at least one fire alarm for each level in your home
- extra batteries

With the exception of the batteries, these items will last years. Install the fire alarms, test them, and repeat the test annually. Change the batteries every month, whether you think they need it or not.

Next, hire a professional to sweep your roof, relieve you of any low-hanging branches over the chimney, and ensure your chimney is up to fire safety standards. One of the most important fire safety hazards they'll check for is creosote buildup. Creosote is a kind of tar formed when wood burns. Just like coffee grounds stick to the sides of the grinder, creosote builds up on the sides of the chimney. Creosote can restrict airflow, and it's flammable. Worst case scenario? Your whole chimney could catch fire. To avoid this disaster, have the chimney checked annually, before you use your fireplace for the first time in the cold season.

Do you have firewood stacked on your front porch or inside the house? Convenient, sure, but hazardous. Store all firewood at least thirty feet away from your home-you can handle the exercise. Make sure you use seasoned hardwood, and don't let it get damp. Soft, damp wood not only produces smoke, it speeds up creosote buildup.

During the holiday season, you may be tempted to set up cute little decorations on the hearth. What harm can a few dancing elves or grinning reindeer do? Well, catching flying sparks and going up in flames would be a start. Instead, keep the cuteness factor on the mantelpiece and your hearth clutter-free. Set up your mesh screen in front of the fireplace. While a fire is burning, glass doors should be left open.

If you can check off the above fire safety precautions, you're ready to light your fireplace. Use only good, dry seasoned hardwood, so you won't need to rely on flammable liquids to start your fire, which is another fire safety no-no. And no, your fireplace is not a garbage disposal, so ixnay on tossing trash or cardboard boxes in there. It's also not a self-destructing entity, so remember to put out the fire before leaving the room. Scoop the hot ashes into a bucket, drench them in water and set them outside.

Follow these simple fire safety precautions, and your fireplace will be a source of pleasure for years to come. Smell the pine, sip hot cocoa, and let your troubles melt away.

Learn more about this author, Antonia Anderson.
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