Orange Kitchen Fire Underscores Need for Vent Cleaning

ORANGE, Conn. - April 20, 2020 - PRLog -- Firefighters in Orange, Conn., quickly extinguished a kitchen fire in a home on Derby Avenue Saturday noon. The fire was knocked down before it could do significant damage.

Members of the Orange Volunteer Fire Department (https://www.orangevfd.org/) were called to 341 Derby Ave. about 5:30 p.m., said Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas. Damage was held to a clothes dryer and its contents. Firefighters also removed smoke and debris from the house. Dumas said the fire demonstrated the need to clean the lint filter in dryers.

"Cleaning out the lint trap in a dryer can prevent a fire and also help your machine's performance," said Dumas. "In addition to cleaning out the lint trap after each use, the dryer's vent to the outside should be cleaned annually."

Dumas said the local family was lucky. Nationally, there are 16,000 clothes dryer fires a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Those fires result nationally in 13 deaths, 444 injuries and $238 million in property damage. About a third of those fires were caused by failure to clean the dryer vent.

"It takes a minute or so to do, but it can prevent so many problems," summarized Dumas.

One resident was examined on scene by firefighters and then by paramedics from AMR but declined to be treated or transported. The fire remains under investigation by the Orange Fire Marshal's office.

About the Orange Volunteer Fire Association

The Orange Volunteer Fire Association provides fire protection residents and businesses in Orange and, through mutual aid, surrounding towns. Members receive training in fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, homeland security issues and other emergency services.

Operating strictly with revenues from fund-raisers and donations, the Orange Volunteer Fire Department is one of the remaining few all-volunteer incorporated fire departments in Connecticut. Active members are on-call to serve the community on a 24-hour/seven-day basis, responding from stations on Orange Center Road and Boston Post Road.

In addition, the fire company offers public education services including lectures, demonstrations and training. For information about membership, donations or public education, call (203) 891-4703,  click on https://www.orangevfd.org/  or find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/OrangeVoluneerFireDepartment/).

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