Excelsior Fire District

Welcome to the Official Web Site of the

City of Deephaven, Minnesota

"two square miles of tranquility"

Excelsior Fire District

24100 Smithtown Road, Shorewood, MN. 55331

Excelsior Fire District is in partnership with Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood and Tonka Bay.

Please visit the Excelsior Fire District website listed above for further information regarding fire prevention tips and upcoming events as well as further contact information.

Thank You! __________________________________________________________________________

Safety Tips from the Excelsior Fire District

March 2010 - Dryer Safety!

Very few people realize the importance of clothes dryer fire prevention. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated annual 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries due to clothes dryer fires. The financial costs come to nearly $100,000,000 per year. Many of these fires can be prevented with maintenance, professional cleanings and proper dryer venting.

Fire is not the only danger, several hundred people a year are also subjected to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper dryer vent setups.

How a Clothes Dryer Fire Occurs

Lint accumulation and reduced airflow in a dryer provide the perfect conditions to start a fire. Lint can build up and block the vents and clog the motor. Limited air flow and blockage can cause the dryer to overheat. The heat gets hot enough to ignite the lint that has accumulated in the lint trap, vents, motor and ducts of the dryer. Lint is a highly combustible material and once ignited fire spreads rapidly.

Warning Signs

If clothing is still damp at the end of a normal cycle or requires longer dryer times, this may be a sign that the exhaust or lint screen is blocked.

If the clothes come out hotter than usual or if the vent hood flapper doesn't open, maintenance is needed.

The presence of lint on or around your dryer, around the duct, on the walls and floors.

Little or no air flow from the dryer vent on the exterior of your home.

Laundry room feels warmer or more humid than normal.

Unusual odors in your laundry area.

Here are some Dryer Facts and Fire Prevention Tips:

Clean the filter screen after each load! Make it a habit!

Keep the dryer vents clean.

Stay at home while the dryer is in use.

Install a smoke detector in your laundry room.

Install a CO alarm in your home outside of sleeping areas.

Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals.

Never use gasoline, paint removers or any flammable liquid to clean soiled rags, fabrics or clothes.

Maintaining your dryer and having it inspected, tested and professionally cleaned has its benefits.

It will increase the life of your dryer by reducing unnecessary wear.

Reduce the amount of energy used drying clothing. A well maintained dryer reduces the amount of time needed to dry clothes, therefore saving you as much as $20.00 or more a month.

On the green side, a dryer that is efficient is also better for the environment. A dryer consumes more energy in people's homes than any other appliance. The less time it takes to dry the less energy your dryer will use.

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