With winter closing in like a vise, the skyrocketing costs of oil have people scrambling for alternative heating methods.

The popularity of wood stoves is on the rise given the cost of home heating oil and natural gas and it has prompted David West, Codes Director of the Otsego County Code Enforcement Office, to issue a public service notice regarding the proper installation and use of wood stoves.

"All appliances come with installation instructions," West said. "The main concern is that people buy them and don't read the instructions. We (Otsego County Code Enforcement) are trying to save lives and property and we'll come and oversee the installation."

West said that the price of wood is rising due to demand.

"Wood burns hotter and faster and releases fewer dioxins than other methods of heating," West said. "But it's so important to make sure people know to clean the chimney once every couple of months."

For eighteen years, West was a fire chief in Milford. He said that almost eighty percent of all winter fires are due to heating devices, and that the vast majority of those are from wood stoves. Creosote, a flammable, tarry by-product of wood combustion, is often the cause of chimney fires. All appliances must be vented by either direct vent or chimneys, and instructions that come with the appliance will contain regulations for chimney installation as well.

Jimmy Leo, a salesman at Bruce Hall's in Cooperstown, said, "We've had a lot of inquiries about woodstoves this season because of the rising costs of fuel. This is the first year we've sold woodstoves in a long time."

Tom Lieber, owner of Otsego Radiant Heat in Fly Creek, has a different perspective.

"Wood is the cheapest if you have wood on your property and the time to cut it down," he said. "Otherwise, measuring in terms of BTU (British Thermal Units) wood isn't as efficient as fuel."

Brent Gray sells wood in Cooperstown. His mother, Connie Gray, said that his wood is the cheapest she's seen all season.

"His is thirty five dollars a face cord, delivered," she said. "I've seen people selling a face cord for up to fifty dollars. The price is definitely rising this year because of the costs of fuel."

Heating permits are required by law in New York State. Citizens of Otsego County can obtain such permits from the Otsego County Code office, with the exception of Otsego and Middlefield, who must get permits locally through Ed Olsen, Code Enforcement Officer.

Once a permit is obtained, a code inspector will visit to inspect the installation of the heating appliance and offer advice on proper usage.