Condominium Fire At 2240 South Elks Lane
Date:
12/21/2009Summary:
On Sunday December 20, 2009 at about 8:15 pm a smell of smoke was reported by a resident of one of the units at 2240 South Elks Lane.Contact:
On Sunday December 20, 2009 at about 8:15 pm a smell of smoke was reported by a resident of one of the units at 2240 South Elks Lane. Yuma Fire Department personnel responded and found smoke present in three different condominium units. Firefighters investigating the origin of the smoke located an active fire in the ceiling of one of the two story residences.
The fire was surrounding a bathroom ventilation fan. The fire was extinguished before it could spread further, with damage limited to the bathroom ceiling surrounding the fan. The owner of the unit where the fire was located was not at home when the fire was discovered.
Fans account for an average of 3,700 home fires every year in the U.S. and bathroom fans account for 50% of the fires caused by installed fans. Signs of a malfunctioning fan (squeaking or other additional noises) cannot be ignored. If a fan stops working, it does not mean there is nothing else happening. Your ventilation fan may just have become a heating element and could be in the process of igniting a fire.
Disconnect and/or replace fans that are not working properly. Older homes are particularly at risk. If you are replacing a fan, look for a replacement that has a thermal fuse designed to cut power to a unit that is building up temperatures likely to ignite a fire.
For More Information
For more information about fire safety and injury prevention, contact the Yuma Fire Department Public Information Office at 373-4855
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