Fireplaces can be VERY dangerous if not properly used and maintained:
A family was killed when a crisp packet blocked a chimney and deadly fumes filled their lounge, an inquest has heard.
Trevor Wallwork, 50, and his children Kimberley, 12, and Harry, nine, were watching TV when an empty crisp packet was thrown on to the coal fire. t rose up ‘like a hot air balloon’ and then blocked the chimney, which prevented fumes from the coal fire from escaping.
Lethal gases seeped back into the living room and the family was slowly overcome by carbon monoxide as they watched television.
This is why we are careful of what we throw in a fire, and why all fireplaces should be complimented by a CO Detector. Those simple safety practices would have saved this family’s life.
Of course the “Gun Death” cult doesn’t care at all about this dead family, and won’t spend an ounce of effort over CO detector awareness because only “Gun Death” Counts!
H/T Bob
Also, who uses coal to heat their homes, anyway? Environmentalists the world over would be appalled!
Didn’t they hear that the modern, “Progressive” way to heat a home is to ignite unicorn farts, which produce nothing but nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and ozone (O3), and about *mumble low mumble* BTUs of heat per flash? Why do you need a coal-powered heater? Isn’t a sweater enough for you?
Hard to say without knowing what they were watching, but maybe they were overcome by the television while they were breathing CO.
Oh, and my wife’s family heated their home with coal in the fireplace and a pot belly stove when we were in school. The local coal was the cheapest heating fuel in our area after the power plants quit buying it because of acid rain. I still have very fond memories associated with the smell of burning sulfur.