Every year RCFD Firefighters respond to several fires that start in the motors of bathroom exhaust fans. The danger is that fans accumulate a great deal of dust or lint that adheres to the fan and blocks the vents. This accumulation of dust and lint causes the fan motor to work harder. The harder the fan works, the more wear and tear there is on the fan motor, and when the fan works harder, or eventually gives out under the burden, it gets hot enough to start a fire. The heat either ignites the accumulated dust or combustible construction in the attic and the fire spreads from there.

The Fire District recommends that you check your exhaust fans from time to time. If they are accumulating dust or if they sound like they are starting to run at a slower speed than they used to, contact management and request maintenance for your exhaust fan. The Fire District has made apartment owners and managers aware of this problem and has asked them to regularly inspect and clean the fans and repair or replace the fans as needed.