Begin with the exact product name on the package and the operating instructions for the fireplace or other appliance. Duraflame sells products for different jobs, including firelogs and fire starters. Match the fuel, appliance, intended activity, and current local restrictions before lighting anything.
Identify what is in the package
Duraflame’s product FAQ distinguishes regular firelogs, outdoor products, and fire starters. Regular firelogs are not intended for cooking; designated outdoor products have specific roasting uses. Fire starters serve a different purpose: starting an approved wood fire. Read the exact package for permitted use.
| Question | Where to find the answer | Record |
|---|---|---|
| What is the product? | Full package name and product type. | Name, size, and a photograph of the instructions. |
| Where may it be used? | Package plus appliance operating manual. | Approved appliance and indoor or outdoor application. |
| What is the intended activity? | Explicit cooking or decorative-fire instructions. | Whether that particular use is permitted. |
| What operating limits apply? | Product instructions for quantity, placement, lighting, and tending. | Exact source to follow during use. |
| May burning take place today? | Current local fire and air-quality authority. | Location, rule or alert checked, and time. |
If the wrapper is unreadable or the identity is uncertain, obtain the correct instructions from the manufacturer before use. Similar packaging, brand names, and familiar shapes are insufficient to identify an approved application. Keep instructions accessible without leaving combustible packaging near the fire.
Check both fuel and fireplace instructions
Duraflame’s FAQ describes regular firelogs for suitable open-hearth fireplaces and compatible manufactured fireplaces, and excludes their use in wood stoves and fireplace inserts. It also distinguishes fire starters from firelogs. Check the specific product and appliance together; if their directions conflict, obtain manufacturer clarification before proceeding.
Have the fireplace and chimney assessed and maintained by a qualified professional. The U.S. Fire Administration’s heating-safety guidance calls for annual professional chimney and vent cleaning and inspection. Its linked fireplace safety handout covers screens, distance from combustibles, and ash handling. A convenient fuel does not remove the need for a sound, maintained appliance and venting system.
Record the fireplace model and manual location with its inspection/service history. When moving into a home, an unfamiliar fireplace should be identified and checked before first use. Ask the professional to explain the operating controls, permitted fuels, clearances, and signs that call for stopping use.
Use the exact instructions throughout the session
For regular firelogs, Duraflame specifies one at a time and warns against adding wood or breaking the log apart. Some outdoor products have different directions. Follow the relevant wrapper for placement, lighting, tending, and completion; instructions for one product should stay with that product.
Arrange the room and the time available before starting. Keep children and pets away, maintain the required clearances, use the required screen, and attend the fire. Have working smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms as directed by fire-safety guidance and their manufacturers; see the U.S. Fire Administration’s CO-alarm guidance. Avoid starting a fire when the household cannot remain to supervise its full use and cooldown.
Follow the fuel and appliance instructions for unusual conditions or extinguishing. If a fire becomes uncontrolled or smoke creates an unsafe condition, leave the area and call emergency services. After use, follow the specified ash and cooldown procedure; the end of visible flames does not establish that the remains are cold.
Check current local burning restrictions
Check the authority responsible for your address on the day of use. For a geographic example, the San Francisco Bay Area’s Wood Burning Rule includes manufactured firelogs in restrictions during qualifying particulate-pollution Spare the Air alerts. Consult that authority’s current rule and any applicable exceptions if you are in its jurisdiction; other places use their own requirements.
EPA’s archived Burn Wise guidance also explains the importance of appliance/fuel compatibility and avoiding smoke problems. EPA identifies the program’s web material as a historical record, no longer updated after October 2025. Use current local authorities for today’s restrictions.