Explosion in fireplace leaves family trying to stay warm out in the cold

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By Arielle Clay aclay@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Dec 7, 2009 at 1:37 AM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 7, 2009 at 1:37 AM EDT

HARLEM, Ga. - A Harlem family trying to warm their home is forced out in the cold after their fireplace explodes.

Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue responded to the home on Harlem Grovetown Road Sunday.

The battalion chief tells 26 News there were some propane fumes built up in a wall.

When the homeowner tried to light the pilot in the gas fireplace those fumes caused an explosion.

A fire started between the rafters in the home and the attic space.

While the chief says the family isn't at fault he says this should serve as a reminder to others.

"Thoroughly inspect all your home heating devices when home heating season begins. These people didn't do anything wrong it was obviously a leak that went undetected. Unfortunately a fire resulted. No one was hurt and they didn't lose their home," Chief Dino Cesarini said.

The family will be out of their home for a few days.

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Wednesday, Dec 9 at 10:02 AM anon wrote ...

Fireplaces aren't useless if you have an insert which forces circulation of the hot air the fire creates back into the house. I have seen firplaces, with that particular device installed, heat a 1800 square foot house quite quickly on only a few blocks of wood. If you are just having a fire in a regular fireplace though without a system inserted to do that, yeah.. it is pretty much a waste of money as the majority of the hot air generated goes right up the chiminey.

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Monday, Dec 7 at 10:21 AM fred wrote ...

Fire places in homes are next to useless.like living on the moon,your front freezes while your back roasts . And a propane one is silly . 70% of the heat goes up the flue .

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Monday, Dec 7 at 9:27 AM monkey donks wrote ...

Nice tittle.

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