Chimney fires are one of the leading causes of residential fires in Washington State, especially during the winter months. Most are caused by creosote, a flammable by-product of burning wood that builds up inside chimneys. Over time, creosote can block the flue and ignite, leading to a dangerous fire. When creosote buildup in the flue reaches a certain point, it can ignite from the heat of the fire in your fireplace or wood stove. Once creosote ignites, it burns at extremely

Fire departments nationwide are seeing a rise in fires, injuries, and fatalities linked to lithium-ion battery-powered devices. These batteries are more common than many realize. They power everyday items such as toys, laptops, shavers, handheld power tools, lawn equipment, drones, and e-scooters. As these products become more widespread, so too does the fire risk associated with them. Lithium-ion battery fires are extremely fast-moving and can be explosive. From the first si