I was called to a house fire last night in Riggins, Idaho. This one is rather odd. The owner just bought the house just a few weeks ago and also just after the purchase of house he installed a brand new energy efficient wood stove. The last night went over to stoke up the fire and when he opened the stove door the stove back drafted on him. When this occur it burned the home owner from the flash of fire also it ejected other flaming material out into the room. All I can say is the house is a complete loss. The theory on cause is possibly using un-cured wood that is way too wet. Or... Improper operation of the stove choking it down really low to save wood.

 

Please people be careful with heating appliances...

We've had minor flashbacks on our stove. Good reason to crack open the door and allow smoke etcetera to go up the chimney before swinging it open. If you're buring really cranked down to extend burn time, not a bad idea to open the draft and allow the stove to resparate before opening. You gotta be smarter than the stove.

We've had minor flashbacks on our stove. Good reason to crack open the door and allow smoke etcetera to go up the chimney before swinging it open. If you're buring really cranked down to extend burn time, not a bad idea to open the draft and allow the stove to resparate before opening. You gotta be smarter than the stove.

That's it. He more than likely had the stove shut down good and once he opened the door the stove experienced the same thing as a flash over causing an exlosion of flame and literally blowing fire, embers, and sparks out.

So the assumption is that he didn't crack the door a little first before opening it?

I can see how that would cause backdrafting... Wet wood would definitely compound the problem. But on the other hand that smoke needs to be very hot to flash like that.

I wonder if there was enough proper drafting for the pipe and not causing a reverse air flow.

The stove "back puffed" or "woofed" on him.  The sudden influx of air to wood that is "off-gassing" but damped down too low to maintain a flame to burn the gas equals.............................mini explosion.

I have played around with that situation. Shut it all the way down long enough to build up explosive gasses then wide open both draft with door shut. As soon as a flame resumes it explodes and knocks some of the creosote down from the chimney. Sorry to hear this guy got hurt though

Edited December 30, 201410 yr by JAG1

I have played around with that situation. Shut it all the way down long enough to build up explosive gasses then wide open both draft with door shut. As soon as a flame resumes it explodes and knocks some of the creosote down from the chimney. Sorry to hear this guy got hurt though

 

 

Hope you have your stove pipe sections screwed together!!!  Been stories of back puffing that blow the stove pipe sections apart!!  Try putting the sections back together while they're hot and the stove is pouring smoke into the room!!!

Edited December 30, 201410 yr by dorkweed

 Tired of rotted out steel pipe each year so all stainless pipe and rivets.

Edited December 31, 201410 yr by JAG1