The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire!
We don't need no water—Let the motherf@#$er burn!
Burn, motherf@$#er, burn!

Strangely, this 1984 song by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three was based on an old Pentecostal hymnal...which has no real relevance other than an introduction to remind you...

Its getting to that time of year when you should remember to get your ladder out, climb out on the roof and scrub your chimney. Smokey, The Prepping Bear says, "Only you can prevent Chimney Fires!" With great Fire Power comes great Fire responsibility.

It may be a bit early for some...with a major snow storm blowing in tomorrow at hurricane strength but I wanted to get it on your radar. It would be a shame to lose all of your prepps to creosote build up. Instant homelessness.

I just did mine this week...and my new efficient stove shocked me. I filled an entire grocery bag with creosote. Yikes. From now on I will clean the chimney a second time mid winter for safety sake.

I used to say, "A bicycle is the single greatest prep to purchase". After this winter...I've changed my mind. A wood stove goes up to the Number 1 slot. We live in Canada. This is not an option.
Recently, a poster said an improvised stove is a bad idea. As usual, I both agree and disagree. You need to know some basic fire safety to have a stove, and like many skills, there is a learning curve to it. The first time you accidentally walk away from your woodstove with the air intake open, suddenly hear that tell tale roar and see flames rocketing out of your roof....well, luckily that happened to me early in my woodstove novice apprenticeship. I learned, luckily with no repercussions other than the berating of an ex wife. Even all these years later, a couple times this winter, I started a fire in the morning and promptly walked outside to do something...only to return to an overheated stove. Fire must be watched like a small child.
Carbon Monoxide is also something you need to understand. There is a reason why those romantic pot belly stoves are nick named, "Hippy Killers".

Sooo...Safety training, practice and experience. An unlocked up, loaded handgun in a home with a 4 year old is a bad idea. A teenager with a sports car is a bad idea. A government with unlimited access to credit is a bad idea.....some people are just too stupid to have a woodstove...but learning some firearm safety or driver training and getting some experience in, is what being a grown up is all about. Getting some wood stove experience in is always a good idea before your life depends on it....

...And don't forget to clean that chimney out.