By A December 18, 2015, New York Times article, “In New York, the Fireplace Flickers,” by C. J. Hughes, discussed the ban on wood-burning fireplaces in new construction. “New York joined a handful of other American cities when it passed a ban on the construction of new wood-burning fireplaces earlier this year, mainly because of concerns that smoke from burning wood can be as toxic as that from cigarettes.”
Fireplaces in NYC—even in the simplest homes since the days of the early settlers seem to have had a cachet beyond just providing warmth, a flame to heat a pot to boil, or a string to hang a few pieces of wet laundry to dry. In the mid to late 19th Century, a Currier & Ives print or a framed home sweet home embroidery might be hung above the mantle. And, the mantle perhaps set of candlesticks, a clock and China figurine.
The tug of nostalgia that tells us “home is where the heath is” is familiar even for urban dwellers who live in apartments without fireplaces. Perhaps this is why numerous contemporary New Yorkers continue to swallow the cost and install gas or other alternatives to wood-burning fireplaces. They have a pre-existing wood-burning fireplace altered or install an entirely new, sleekly modern design or add a strictly traditional fireplace and mantle to their living space. Various other fuel-burning fireplaces or impressive electric simulations are also options. A company called Ortal Heat, applauding “innovation meets tradition,” for example, offers 300 standard fireplace options – some are three-sided and promoted online with beautiful photographs.
Locating a fireplace store is not an overwhelming challenge – there are many in the metropolitan area.
Gas fireplaces are not new. According to a 2021 article in Vertical Chimney Care “…fireplaces became regularly sold on the market during the 1920s, although they would not hit their peak popularity until the 1950s. Gas fireplaces became more prevalent mid-century, partially thanks to the Clean Air Act of 1956 which promoted an eco-friendlier society. However, gas fireplaces were simply a more attractive option than a wood-burning fireplace. The improvement of the visual appearance of the logs and flames attracted more and more consumers. Decades later, the 1990s revitalized gas fireplace designs with realistic flame technology, safer and more improved venting systems, and overall energy efficiency.”
Penthouse BC3, just sold for almost 16 Million at The Grand Millennium, built in 1996 at 1965 Broadway, rising above the repurposed Tower Records business. Penthouse BC3 features a two-sided, ultra-chic-looking fireplace marking a separation of a vast dining and living space with sweeping views. Listing agent Lindsay Stokes Robinson of Compass Real Estate said, “it’s a gas fireplace.” A reference to wood-burning cachet is signaled by shelves neatly lined with decorative logs in a niche above the fire, and of course, with gas, there’s no need to get on your knees to clean out ashes or to schedule a chimney sweep.
Beyond the romance of savoring a good brandy by an open fire, is of course the matter of safety.
Are gas fireplaces safe? According to Atlas Care,
“Gas fireplaces are safe. But as with all gas appliances, they do produce carbon monoxide. If something goes wrong, carbon monoxide put the home’s occupants at risk. It’s not always easy to tell when there’s a carbon monoxide leak. Ventless fireplaces are illegal in NYC.”
According to FDNY website text and messages conveyed via online videos,
“The goal of the Fire Safety Education Program is to eliminate residential fire deaths in New York City. Fire deaths have dropped steadily during the past decades and studies have shown that there is a direct link to strong public education programs. The goal of FDNY instructors is to continually educate the public with critical lifesaving strategies that focus on fire prevention, with a special focus on the City’s most vulnerable populations and at-risk communities.
The FDNY invites the public to increase its focus on Fire Safety in all its dimensions. Toward this goal, FDNY’s website details a fire prevention program that includes a broad range of “Presentations at local schools and community centers and other outreach events in New York City and even Visits from Hotdog, the FDNY fire safety mascot, or Siren, the FDNY life safety mascot.”