Firewood/Fireplace:

Firewood is provided for your use in the fireplace.  It is kept on the deck. Please don’t chop wood on the deck.  You can use the wooden chopping block on the ground beside the deck. An axe is available in the garbage shed.

The fireplace damper is in the OPEN position when it is pulled TOWARD YOU. If you use the gas log lighter (valve just to the right of the fireplace. ON=Counterclockwise, OFF=Clockwise) please make sure that it is turned off once the logs are burning well enough. Please don't close the damper.

Don't start a fire during a temperature INVERSION as the fireplace won't draft well and the house will get smoky. These usual occur when it is very cold here (20's or below). Take a look at the Mt. Bachelor weather. If the temps there are higher than here (and increase toward the summit) then an inversion is happening. Look up at the chimney from outside the cabin. If the smoke is curling or going down toward the roof, there may be an inversion.

To help troubleshoot a smoke situation, first, turn off any exhaust fans (bathrooms, kitchen range). Open a door or window slightly. Make sure the fire is burning well. If that still does not work then you may need to get one of the ash cans from the front deck and put the smoldering logs in it and take it outside and douse it. Please don't leave any fires burning outside.