Wood boiler fire

[Johny Utah]

Was at a fire today involving an outdoor wood boiler. When we (volunteer fire fighters) got there it was a total loss of the building the boiler was in. I don't know if I would consider one for myself after seeing what can go wrong. If the wind had been the wrong way he would have lost the house and maybe the barn. The fire spread to the shelter belt beside the boiler shed which could have gotten hairy because it's so dry and windy this year.

 

[Michael Johnson]

designed to be outside or in a building

Was at a fire today involving an outdoor wood boiler. When we (volunteer fire fighters) got there it was a total loss of the building the boiler was in. I don't know if I would consider one for myself after seeing what can go wrong. If the wind had been the wrong way he would have lost the house and maybe the barn. The fire spread to the shelter belt beside the boiler shed which could have gotten hairy because it's so dry and windy this year.

I'm not sure how much you can tell us here but I have a couple of questions:
Was the "outdoor wood boiler" safety tested and listed to be installed inside of a building?
Was it installed to meet all of the requirements regarding clearances to combustibles?
Did the chimney vent through the roof properly and as required per it's safety listing requirement?
Was all of the wood fuel for the system inside that same building?
Did the owner dispose of his ash properly?

I've seen where people put the "outdoor" units inside of structures where their safety listing requirements specifically prohibit this type of installation. Most "outdoor" units are not designed to be installed inside of buildings...they are free standing units that are designed to withstand the elements and actually be installed "outside." It would be nice to have more information on this to determine if an improper installation was the reason for the fire. Maybe you can tell us more after the investigation has concluded.

Thanks.

 

[Johny Utah]

Those are all good questions and we will most likely never know the answers because the fire commissioner wasn't going to investigate. We just assumed from what we saw it was an accident that probably could have been prevented. The shed was full of wood close to the boiler. It was a real big boiler so like you say it might have been an outdoor unit. One of the guys in the department was related to this guy and wasn't surprised that it happened.

 

[gwiley]

For most units they offer a clue in the name "outdoor wood burner" or "outdoor wood boiler".

 

[Johny Utah]

For most units they offer a clue in the name "outdoor wood burner" or "outdoor wood boiler".

This guy is well known around the town and he isn't really that careful or playing with a full deck.

 

[mbergeon]

This guy is well known around the town and he isn't really that careful or playing with a full deck.

Good thing his wood stove wasn't inside his house.