Pete Hypes
Something to Check
By
Jul 23, 2008 - 10:17:20 AM

At about 6 a.m. last workday, units responded to a single-family dwelling with fire through the roof. Thankfully, there were no injuries to the occupant in this fire. The fire was caused by a problem with a bathroom vent fan. Ceiling fans, attic fans, and bathroom vent fans account for some of the fires that we respond to annually. Some of the problems could be averted if you would take the time to clean the fans periodically. Fans build up dirt, dust, and even get clogged with insulation in the attics; this, in turn, causes fans to run slower, and build up heat, which over a period of time dries out and prepares the wood that they are attached to, to burn. The electric motors on these fans also bind up and overheat from time to time. One indication of this is that the fan will either run slower, or the fan will make noise when it is operating. Whenever a problem is noted with a fan, you are probably going to have to replace it yourself, or have an electrician come in and replace it for you.

Though it is never good to leave any fans running while you are not at home, some leave ceiling fans on all night. The problem is that when a fire starts due to one of these fans, the fire is in the attic. Attic fires usually go unnoticed until a neighbor or passerby sees smoke or fire. The other thing is that most people do not put smoke detectors in their attic. In other words, a fire can be burning over your head and you know nothing about it.

This is just one of many things that can cause a fire in your home. It is important that you keep things clean, and replace those items that are not working properly. As always, make sure that you have an adequate number of smoke alarms, and that you test them monthly. Your family’s life may depend on it! 

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