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This statistic challenges the common perception of fireplaces as benign or nostalgic fixtures. Instead, it paints them as potentially lethal. Astoundingly, this figure surpasses the mortality attributable to vehicle emissions, energy production, and even bushfires, positioning the fireplace as an unintended—or perhaps deliberately ignored—culprit in the nation's health crisis.
A Historical Practice Turned Harmful
Humans have burned wood for warmth for over 65,000 years—a tradition embedded in human history. From primitive fires to modern wood heaters, this method has persisted through ages, providing comfort in winter across the globe.