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Depending on who’s doing the estimating, about 22,000 to 25,000 chimney fires happen each year in the United States. Given the fact that millions of Americans have fireplaces (and chimneys), that means chimney fires aren’t exactly common—but they’re not rare, either. Since they’re so dangerous, it’s important to take precautions to prevent them.

A spark arrestor is a simple metal mesh device that prevents flammable particles from escaping from a combustion source and causing a fire. You typically find these attached to gas or diesel engines on things like cars, generators, and garden tools (lawnmowers, chainsaws, etc.). Fireplace or wood-burning stove chimneys also have spark arrestors attached to or sitting under the chimney cap to capture burning embers.

You can install a range hood and use the vent to protect your kitchen cabinets from heat and steam from the stovetop. For added heat protection, homeowners can install metal heat shields to exposed sections of the cabinets. It is also essential to keep cabinet surfaces clean by removing any grease buildup that can cause a fire.

A chimney liner isn’t required for an outdoor fireplace; you don’t technically need one if the masonry chimney uses the proper dimensions and is built to code. However, a chimney liner does serve as a protective coating for the flue. Adding a liner could improve performance, safety, and durability. In short, while not necessary, it wouldn’t hurt.