Wood provides cozy, warm heat and can be easily obtained free in many parts of the United States with a little work. Wood almost becomes a no-brainer in a stationary vehicle on a plot of wooded land. For those who travel frequently, wood can be found in most places, except maybe the desert in the Southwest, which is generally warm enough that heat is not needed. 

The National Fire Protection Association reminds people to have their chimneys cleaned and inspected annually because, in years past, there have been at least 25,000 chimney fires each year in the US alone. Sadly, many of these result in the destruction of the home and, yes, fatalities. With more people turning to wood heat and often not properly educated about all the safety factors, these numbers will probably rise.  

For those living in unconventional dwellings like bus conversions, vans, tiny houses, RVs, skoolies, and container homes, the threat of chimney fires is alarming and potentially life-threatening. The first challenge often lies in the layout and emergency exit options. Many of these 'alternative' housing options feature compact floor plans, lofts, and typically only one exit door. In the event of a fire, this could potentially lead to people being trapped inside, such as in an RV, highlighting the urgent need for safety awareness. 

A secondary concern is that these 'tiny domiciles' often use materials that, when consumed by fire, produce toxic and deadly smoke. Using plastics and composite materials could lead to a person being quickly overwhelmed by smoke and perishing.  Another concern is that many nomads may be way out in the backcountry, with limited or no fire protection close by, highlighting the situation's urgency.

At Unforgettable Fire^TM, we prioritize communicating all safety aspects of wood-burning stoves. The first and most crucial step is understanding the correct installation methods for your stove, including the necessary combustible clearance around the stove. This can be more challenging when dealing with a home on wheels, but it's a responsibility we must all take seriously. By empowering ourselves with this knowledge, we can significantly enhance our safety and that of our homes.  

One of the biggest reasons the Kimberly^TM (shown above) has been so successful in the "tiny dwelling" community is that its double wall construction and high-temperature insulation allow for a 6" sidewall and 12" rear wall clearance to combustible materials. Most stoves do not allow this, requiring up to 24 inches of clearance.  Space that may not be available in a compact home on wheels. 

When the fire is burning, it is important to check the temperature of the walls surrounding your stove. If your bare hand cannot comfortably remain on a wall section, heat shields are an immediate necessity. A proper wall shield is made of a non-combustible material with a one-inch air space behind it. If the shield touches the wall, it will transfer heat into it, negating any benefits of being there. If the heat shield touches the wall behind it, it will transfer the heat to the combustible materials behind it thereby potentially starting a fire. A minimum one-inch gap between the floor and the shielding and between the stove and the ceiling will enhance the airflow within the gap behind the shielding. 

The next thing to be aware of is floor ember protection. Unforgettable Fire^TM recommends two layers of nonflammable material, such as a 1/4-inch tile backer (cement board) with tile on top of it. When people lay loose bricks on the floor, they are not protected from sparks or small coals falling between the bricks and onto the underlayment, which can start a fire. Also, one must always use extreme caution when emptying out ash. Remove all ashes from the home after cleaning, and put them outdoors in a sealed bucket suitable for containing the hot ash until it is cool.

No one would pour water into their car's fuel tank, but people put wet wood in their stoves daily. Unforgettable Fire^TM recommends that anyone burning a wood stove own a moisture meter and know how to store their wood in Lincoln Log style for sufficient airflow through the stack with no tarp. They should also use wood or tin to cover the pile for the fastest drying time. 

One great thing about tiny stoves is that they burn small pieces of wood, which dry much faster than bigger pieces. At no time do we recommend that wood with a moisture content above 20% be burned and is the wood stove industry standard. Most people can easily get their wood down to 14% moisture content over time. There are also "manufactured" logs (compressed sawdust, paraffin-free) that are very low in moisture content. These are great for wheeled homes that travel a lot and can be found in many stores and can be stored easily in your bus, tiny home, or RV.

A clean chimney can never create a chimney fire; therefore, inspect your chimney often and clean it as needed. There is no replacement for preventative maintenance; one can never be TOO SAFE. Kimberly^TM has a reputation for such a clean burn that an annual cleaning is typically enough. Not all small stoves, however, can be trusted this way, and some need cleaning after only two weeks of burning. 

Should a chimney fire occur, call 911 and CALMLY pour a coffee cup full of water into the stove as many times as needed for the steam blasts to extinguish the fire. Make sure to close the door after pouring the water inside the stove and get another cup of water ready while waiting for the fire department to arrive.

Ensuring your chimney is properly constructed and has UL-listed stove pipe going through the ceiling is important. Several stoves today can use 3" or 4" pellet stove pipe, which started with the Kimberly model and has continued with the Katydid^TM and Krikit^TM models. This type of pipe, however, CANNOT pass through a wall or ceiling.

It is imperative that the pellet stove pipe travel through a section of Class A pipe, as shown below.  Class A pipe provides an air barrier between the hot stove pipe and combustible materials.  Failure to follow these instructions can and will start a fire in your rig.  

Here is a copy of the Kimberly^TM owner's manual with recently updated UL-listed information: kimberly-owners-manual-2024.pdf. While many things about Kimberly^TM do not pertain to other stoves, this manual contains a vast amount of information that covers other stoves. Diagram 10 on page 36 in the PDF shows how we construct our chimneys, which far exceed the safety requirements of UL.

Mobility is another important factor for any bus conversion, RV, or portable tiny house. If you're going to be moving your home down the freeway, you MUST make sure your stove is bolted securely to the frame of the vehicle, whether that be a trailer, bus, van or any moveable vehicle. All Unforgettable Fire^TM products have bolt holes for this purpose. If you rarely move the bus or tiny house, you can plan your installation so the stove can be removed and stowed in a safe place during transport to a new location. 

Your "rolling home" will face the same conditions as an earthquake and hurricane. The last thing you want is a stove coming loose and becoming a missile in a sudden stop. Knowing your departure times and how long a stove will take to cool down completely is also important, as all ashes should be removed before travel and the stove must be cool to the touch. Again, safety must come first.

The crew of Unforgettable Fire^TM wants people to be prepared and safe. We hope that the information we have shared here will help anyone who burns wood to do so safely because we care a great deal about people.