One fire department has gone viral after seeing a rise in "fart fan fires," and that is a direct quote.

Fire Safety

I am by no means an expert on fire safety, but there are some things we always do in our home to help prevent a house fire.  Things that are considered common sense,  like not running the dryer unattended and keeping the lint trap clean. Candles don't stay lit overnight, or when we are gone, we make sure anything flammable is not near the stove, having a fire extinguisher in the house, and things like that. Now, this is by no means a comprehensive list of fire safety items, just some of what I'm a stickler on in my house (You can find a comprehensive list of fire safety for your home through the U.S. Fire Administration). 

However, recently I learned a fire safety fact that I had never really thought about before.  Did you know that your bathroom fan is a huge fire risk?

Bathroom Fans Are a Fire Risk

This is something I never thought about before, but it makes sense. I mean, think about it, your bathroom fan runs, and it gets condensation in the vent, which can cause dust to really stick to everything, and the motor can spark a fire.   Recently, one fire department took to social media to warn people about the dangers of bathroom fan fires, and they used a little bit of humor to address the uptick in fan fires they've been seeing.

"Your Fart Fans Are Causing Fires"- Greenwood City Fire Department (Yes, Really)

The Greenwood City Fire Department in South Carolina recently took to Facebook to remind people to turn off their bathroom fans when they are not actively using them.  They say that they've seen an uptick in "fart fans" causing fires recently.

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 Here is what the Facebook post says: 

Turns out, they’re not built to run 24/7 like your favorite binge-worthy TV show. When these fans get gunked up with dust and lint, and keep running too long, they can overheat and catch fire. Not exactly the kind of heat you want in the bathroom.

So here’s your fire safety tip of the day:

• Turn off your bathroom exhaust fan when you’re done.
• Clean it regularly (yes, that means climbing up there and getting the dust bunnies out).
• Replace old fans that sound like they’re grinding gravel.

So, basically, keep your fart fanning to a minimum, and make sure to only use the fart fan when necessary.