Say the words "fireplace safety" to the average person and you’re not likely to get much of a response. The first image that might jump to mind is a Victorian-era waif, covered with soot at the end of a hard day’s chimney sweeping. But these days, all you need to give yourself a little bit of peace of mind before starting a fire is some good common sense.

Fire safety can be broken down into a series of easy-to-do steps. Follow these five commandments, and you’ll be burning in style all winter long.

1. Clean your chimney at the beginning of every burning season.

The business of chimney sweeping is considerably more reputable these days than it was in the past. Long brushes and scouring cleansers have replaced hardworking orphans. Many things can accumulate in a chimney: birds’ nests, leaves, even dead animals. These can clog the flow of smoke and create backup. Cleaning your chimney at the start of the burning season can give you peace of mind all season long.

2. Make sure the flue is open and drawing air before you build any fire.

Common sense, right? You’d think so, but many people neglect to check their flue before starting to burn. Be certain to open the flue. You can make sure your chimney is drawing air by lighting the end of a piece of paper. If the smoke rises rapidly up the chimney, go ahead and light your fire.

3. Never use lighter fluid to start a hearth fire.

Lighter fluid is for charcoal grills. Fire Starters are for fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. It is extermely hazardous to use a combustible liquid indoors. Don’t even think of doing this - it has been the cause of many fires in places where they didn't belong.

4. Use a screen to protect adjacent floors and furniture.

As a fire burns, embers will make a characteristic popping sound as moisture is released from the wood. Most of these will be drawn up the chimney. Some of them, however, can wind up being ejected from the fireplace. If there is no firescreen in place, their eventual landing place could be your carpets or your drapes. Make sure you have a sturdy mesh or glass screen in place, and you won’t have to fret. Easy enough.

5. Never leave a burning fire behind.

If you’ve obeyed the above steps, nothing can go wrong, right? Why not just go to bed and let everything run its course? Unfortunately, this doesn’t work. Something can always go wrong. An overeager child or housepet, a particularly adventurous ember, even a very strong gust of wind -- all of these can wreak havoc on your fire safety program. If you’re around while the fire is burning, these things are all easily dealt with. The warning: Use common sense. Don’t start a fire twenty minutes before going to bed. Fire is the most dangerous of the mythic four elements. It has inspired wars, religious rites, and really bad movies. Don’t ever turn your back on one that’s burning in your house!

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