Now that it's colder, I notice many homes in town with thick, white smoke coming from their chimneys. If this continues, be it a woodstove or fireplace, you will wind up with a creosote fire - not a good thing! The question is not IF, but WHEN it will occur. This is caused by either not burning hot enough or burning wood that is wet and/or not seasoned properly. If a wood fire smokes for a minute or so when you first light it, that is normal, but if it continues, that's a danger sign. After a fire has been started, the only thing you should notice, when you look up at the chimney, is a shimmer from the heat distorting the light - NO SMOKE!!!
What to do? Learn how to build and maintain a proper wood fire - LOTS of online resources. Know when wood is properly seasoned, and DO NOT burn unseasoned wood. Clean that chimney every year: yes, it's a messy job but, if you cannot do it yourself, have it done. You will be happy you did and the local volunteer firefighters, I am sure, will have less to do.
