ASSINIBOIA — Assiniboia’s Fire Chief, Terry Lacelle, says the department received seven calls in August, including a grass fire, a motor vehicle collision in town, an elevator rescue, and a STARS landing assist. The month also included three false fire alarms.
Lacelle says the department’s training in August focused on extrication tools and wildland fire techniques.
The AFD also provides this monthly safety tip, focusing on clothes dryer safety.
“Doing laundry is most likely part of your everyday routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? With a few simple safety tips, you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire," Lacelle said, offering the following tips.
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Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
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Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
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Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper airflow and drying time.
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Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it.
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Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to ensure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
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Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
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Turn the dryer off if you leave home or go to bed.
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Check the outdoor vent flap to make sure it is not covered by snow.
The leading cause of clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them, Lacelle added.
