I recently bought a house and this weekend I went to start a fire. When I did this I found that there is a gap of about 6" between the brick and wood framing for the fireplace mantle. This poses a severe fire risk as burning hot amber could roll into that gap and start my house on fire. This gap is all the way around and the only option I can see would be to tear out some framing and brick to the opening but I wanted to get some suggestions. Any help would be appreciated.

6", didn't you get a home inspection, this is pretty significant flaw. Since the mantle is above the fire box no coals can roll into it, can you try to tell us more details about this gap. Did you possibly mean the hearth?

Our home inspector did not say anything or put anything in the report about it. When I spoke of the mantle I meant where it was framed out for the wood surround and mantle.

Sides, top or floor area? Only on the floor would there be an issue and that's the hearth. The sides can be filled with a strip of similar wood stained or painted to match, this area should not be a fire hazard.

What it seems is that there was a fire place and they did not like how it looked so they framed up an opening in front with glass doors and were in the process of converting it to a gas fire place.
So I guess what I need is a way to fill the gad where the hearth would be?

Any chance of a picture?

Can you send me your e-mail? I can't get them loaded on here.
My e-mail is [email protected]. I have some good pictures to show everything I am looking at. Thanks

Done