A firefighter’s wife made a PSA on TikTok to raise awareness about a home fire risk that very few people are aware of.
In footage dated October 22, Jess (@unhingedreviewswjess) points to her bathroom ceiling and pulls a string to turn on the extractor fan. In the caption, she states that it is “not the most common fire, but the most dangerous.”
She then explains why her husband, who has 17 years of experience, calls her “a house burner.” So far, the video has been viewed 2.1 million times.
The purpose of a bathroom fan is to help remove moisture from the air when showering to prevent mold growth. However, Jess notes that “no one ever thinks to clean” the interior, leading to years of dust and dirt buildup, which can have serious consequences.
TikTok/@unhingedreviewswjess
In the caption, she said: “Even if you are at home, [the fire] can go unnoticed for too long and quickly spiral out of control. »
However, health and safety expert Dale Allen said News week: “When extractor fans meet the standards approved by your country and are correctly installed and wired, they can generally be used safely continuously in normal households without posing a fire risk.”
“These fans have kept our homes cool and dust-free for years. It’s important to avoid creating unnecessary fear around devices that, under normal conditions, improve our lives.”
Allen recommends cleaning the fan once a month, and Jess recommends using it for no more than 15 minutes at a time.
In the caption, Jess also says, “When the firefighters arrive, they’ll probably ‘lower the ceiling’ to put out the fire. It’s too dangerous to put a body in the crawl space.”
It seems the video has struck a chord with many people, as over 4,000 users have commented, many of whom thank Jess.
“I think you saved my life. I keep these things on 24/7 for white noise and I IMMEDIATELY ran to turn it off. thank you!” said one woman, and Jess said, “The cleaner they are, the safer they are, but absolutely only use them when needed.”
“OK WAIT. My husband always freaks out if I leave the bathroom fan on………I owe him an apology,” one user said and another wrote: “As as a child firefighter, I’m afraid of bathroom fans and dryers.”
Animaflore
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, approximately 10,000 residential attic fires were reported each year between 2006 and 2008, resulting in approximately 30 deaths, 125 injuries and $477 million in property damage. Although attic fires are part of the larger problem of residential fires, they only account for about 2% of all residential building fires. More recent data, from 2017 to 2019, shows that U.S. fire departments responded to approximately 368,500 residential building fires per year.
Allen, the founder of Safety-Verse, an initiative that aims to make safety information and resources more accessible, said: News week: “Often our habits lead to dangers in the home. For example, coming home from a night out, deciding to cook, and then leaving it unattended is a major cause of house fires. Being attentive helps protect us , to protect our children and the elderly.”
The 5 main home fire risks and prevention tips
Allen, based in England, provided the following advice:
- Cooking appliances: “Most house fires start in the kitchen. Always pay attention when cooking.”
- Heaters and fires: “Keep heaters and open fires away from flammable objects. Use fire guards if necessary.”
- Electrical equipment: “Faulty or overloaded outlets can cause fires. Check cords regularly and avoid overloading outlets.”
- Candles, matches and lighters: “Never leave candles unattended and keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.”
- Smoking equipment: “Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished. Avoid smoking indoors or when drowsy.”
News week contacted @unhingedreviewswjess for comment on this story.
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