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kilns and the fire dept

updated sun 2 sep 01

 

KLeSueur@AOL.COM on fri 31 aug 01


In a message dated 8/31/01 7:12:35 PM, fabienne@MILKYWAYCERAMICS.COM writes:

<< There was an article a couple of years ago in CM, perhaps, about a potter
firing his wood kiln in the middle of a busy urban area. The fire dept
showed up a couple of times, but if I recall correctly, now they just call
it up to let the firemen know they are firing so they don't come for
nothing and still would be responsive if indeed the place was really going
up in smoke. They had to run some fire dept official(s) through the
process until they felt comfortable with it, I believe.
>>

There is a certain courtesy we potters should extend to our neighbors and the
civil servants who serve us. All of my immediate neighbors know how to shut
off my gas kiln in case of an emergency. The gas solenoid and blowers are
wired into a relay. Push the red buttom and it all shuts down. Everyone knows
where the red button is. The fire department knows the kiln is here, knows I
don't leave it when it's firing, and can question anyone reporting a fire
here. It helps that there are probably more gas kilns per square mile in this
city than any where else.

kathi LeSueur
Ann Arbor, Mi

Anita M. Swan on fri 31 aug 01


Seriously, folks, just call the local fire department and let them know what you are doing - I call every time I fire the pit - they really appreciate it since they did come out once due to a neighbor's call - and we live out in the middle of nowhere. Now I just explain that it is a pottery firing in a controlled container and that there will be a lot of smoke, do the same thing when I raku. Good luck! Nita

artimater wrote:

> The first time we fired our wood kiln the fire dept showed up....there was about a five foot flame shooting out the top right after stoking, and one or more of our suburban neighbors thought the whole place was going up...The fire dept didn't like it but they didn't hose it downHEHEHE.....The next time....same thing only now the firmen on their big ole hook and ladder truck were mighty pissed.....I think they charged Brookhaven $200.....We put a metal skirt about 4 feet tall around the stack and they haven't come back....I'm sure they still get calls though.....I guess now when someone reports Brookhaven on fire they just say, "Nah"......I wonder what would happen if we really did flame the place up?
> Then there was the misty morning we fired the soda kiln and filled the huge parking lot with a cloudHOHOHO....I think it was late enough that no one was around to notice....If anyone had seen, the fire trucks would have showed up again.....Maybe we could have said, "That's just fog"......"What kiln?"
> Rush
>
> "I only indulge when I've seen a snake, so I keep a supply of indulgences and snakes handy"
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artimater on fri 31 aug 01


The first time we fired our wood kiln the fire dept showed =
up....there was about a five foot flame shooting out the top right after =
stoking, and one or more of our suburban neighbors thought the whole =
place was going up...The fire dept didn't like it but they didn't hose =
it downHEHEHE......The next time....same thing only now the firmen on =
their big ole hook and ladder truck were mighty pissed.....I think they =
charged Brookhaven $200.....We put a metal skirt about 4 feet tall =
around the stack and they haven't come back....I'm sure they still get =
calls though.....I guess now when someone reports Brookhaven on fire =
they just say, "Nah"......I wonder what would happen if we really did =
flame the place up?
Then there was the misty morning we fired the soda kiln and filled =
the huge parking lot with a cloudHOHOHO....I think it was late enough =
that no one was around to notice....If anyone had seen, the fire trucks =
would have showed up again.....Maybe we could have said, "That's just =
fog"......."What kiln?"=20
Rush

"I only indulge when I've seen a snake, so I keep a supply of =
indulgences and snakes handy"
http://www.geocities.com/artimator/index.html
artimator@earthlink.net

Fabienne Micheline Cassman on fri 31 aug 01


At 07:05 AM 08/31/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> The first time we fired our wood kiln the fire dept showed =
>up....there was about a five foot flame shooting out the top right after =
>stoking, and one or more of our suburban neighbors thought the whole =
>place was going up...The fire dept didn't like it but they didn't hose =
>it downHEHEHE......

There was an article a couple of years ago in CM, perhaps, about a potter
firing his wood kiln in the middle of a busy urban area. The fire dept
showed up a couple of times, but if I recall correctly, now they just call
it up to let the firemen know they are firing so they don't come for
nothing and still would be responsive if indeed the place was really going
up in smoke. They had to run some fire dept official(s) through the
process until they felt comfortable with it, I believe.

> Then there was the misty morning we fired the soda kiln and filled =
>the huge parking lot with a cloudHOHOHO....I think it was late enough =
>that no one was around to notice....If anyone had seen, the fire trucks =
>would have showed up again.....Maybe we could have said, "That's just =
>fog"......."What kiln?"=20

That doesn't sound too good. I heard a similar story, she persons and
place shall remain nameless; my lips are sealed :) The grass and trees
died wherever the cloud touched the ground. It doesn't sound very safe in
an urban area.

Fabienne


--
Milky Way Ceramics http://www.milkywayceramics.com/

Yes, I have learned from my mistakes...
I can reproduce them exactly.

Anji Henderson on fri 31 aug 01


Oooh in my county they would shut you down
instantly... I found this out trying to be a legal
beagle like Lisa... :( they have a bizillion rules and
laws governing fires on personal property here..
Basically the one that made me say oh forget it is
that you have to have the fire a full football fields
length away from any building structure... Shoot We
don't have buildings a building length away from each
other...

Check your law on some things and not on others... :(
Anji

--- Fabienne Micheline Cassman
wrote:
> At 07:05 AM 08/31/2001 -0500, you wrote:
> > The first time we fired our wood kiln the
> fire dept showed =
> >up....there was about a five foot flame shooting
> out the top right after =
> >stoking, and one or more of our suburban neighbors
> thought the whole =
> >place was going up...The fire dept didn't like it
> but they didn't hose =
> >it downHEHEHE......
>
> There was an article a couple of years ago in CM,
> perhaps, about a potter
> firing his wood kiln in the middle of a busy urban
> area. The fire dept
> showed up a couple of times, but if I recall
> correctly, now they just call
> it up to let the firemen know they are firing so
> they don't come for
> nothing and still would be responsive if indeed the
> place was really going
> up in smoke. They had to run some fire dept
>

=====
Good art does not have to match your sofa!!

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