I found this yesterday; the photo is looking straight up from the fireplace ash dump clean-out door (basement). The hearth area was constructed over plywood. The ash dump was full of ash and charred wood so the owners have been dumping for a long time. I do not see any charring of the plywood around the opening. I called it out as a defect due to risk of burning from embers falling through the clean out trap door. What would you guys have done or said? Thank you
