Contributor Spotlight: Noel Putaansuu

Noel grew up in a house with an open fireplace and a wood stove. Wood stoves have also been the primary heat source in his last three homes, and he currently burns about three cords of wood per winter. As such, many of his fondest memories involve spending time with family members around fires.

Maybe that’s why he’s been working with fire since 1982. At the time, he was employed by a fire laboratory, where he measured smoke and heat from fires and worked on code compliance testing and litigation. Since then, he’s held many different positions at various organizations: He’s been a fire laboratory technician for Weyerhaeuser Technology Center, a firefighter for Cowlitz Fire District, a project manager for Western Fire Center, a senior fire investigator at Liberty Mutual Insurance, and the president of the International Association of Arson Investigators (Chapter 22). He’s currently the founder and CEO of Smokeless Chimney, which aims to provide warm homes and clean air for everyone.

When The Fire Time Magazine asked Noel why he got started in the industry, he said, “I enjoy my wood stove. I recognized a need that others did not see. I saw laws and a certification process that were impacting the industry and secured multiple patent claims in an effort to address the issue. Then, I developed a solution to the problem with a measurement method.” Noel further noted, “This is a good industry with goals that I can support. I genuinely enjoy operating our wood stove with the warmth and family time.”

Outside of work, Noel has a variety of hobbies and interests. For starters, he spends some of his free time making educational videos for his Smokeless Chimney YouTube channel. He also enjoys going to dinner with his wife, playing World of Tanks with his brother, sharing a brew with friends, and riding his adventure motorcycle.

In short, Noel is an experienced fire expert who’s passionate about sharing his knowledge with others. His articles for The Fire Time Magazine are always packed with interesting information and thoughtful insights, so we’re lucky that he’s one of our consistent contributors. Thanks for all the time and energy you’ve put into this publication, Noel. Our entire team appreciates you!