Laundry exhaust fans: please check and clean yours now

1What happened

On the night of Sunday 25 October 2026, a fire broke out in the laundry of a unit in our building. The fire was contained to the laundry area, but it caused serious damage to the ceiling, wiring and appliances.

The Strata Committee held a special meeting on Friday 30 October 2026 to review the incident. It agreed that the sequence below is the most likely cause, and asked that all residents be informed so the same thing does not happen again.

The formal cause is still subject to FRNSW and The Insurer's assessment.

2The likely cause

1. Lint builds up. A vented dryer blows warm, lint-laden air into the room. Over years of use, the ceiling exhaust fan draws this in, and dust and clothing fibres collect on the fan's vanes inside the housing, out of sight behind the grille.
2. The lint is highly flammable. A thick layer of dry fibre can catch fire from a small spark or from heat alone.
3. An electrical fault ignites it. Arcing in the fan wiring, or the fan motor overheating, can set the lint alight.
4. The fire spreads downwards. The fan's plastic housing melts, and burning plastic drips onto the dryer and washing machine below.

This is a well-known hazard. Similar laundry fan fires have been widely reported, for example this short video.

3What we ask every household to do

• Look inside the fan. With the power off, remove the grille and shine a torch on the vanes. A grey, furry coating on the vanes is lint build-up.
• Clean the vanes, or arrange for a contractor to do it. See section 4 below.
• Replace a fan that is not working properly. A fan that is noisy, slow, runs hot, or gives off a burning smell should be switched off and checked by a licensed electrician.
• Clean your dryer's lint filter after every load. A clean filter means less lint reaches the room and the fan.
• Don't run the dryer when no one is home or overnight while everyone is asleep.
• Test your smoke alarm by pressing its test button.

Tenants: please let your landlord or managing agent know if the fan needs repair or replacement.

4How to clean the fan safely

Our laundry fans are a "barrel" type exhaust fan (also called a centrifugal fan), not a blade type like a boat propeller. Inside the housing is a drum of about 40 vertical vanes, and each vane can become coated in lint. This is the build-up that matters, and it is much harder to clean than the grille.

1. Turn off the power at your unit's switchboard, not just the wall switch, so the fan cannot start while your hands or tools are inside it.
2. Remove the grille (usually it pulls down or unclips) and wash it in warm soapy water. Let it dry fully.
3. Clean each vane. Work the lint off every vane with a slender tool such as an old toothbrush, a narrow paint brush, or a slender chisel used gently. Turn the drum by hand to reach each vane in turn.
4. Vacuum up the loosened lint with a crevice or brush attachment as you go, and wipe the housing with a dry or barely damp cloth. Never spray water into the fan or motor.
5. Refit the grille and restore the power. Check the fan runs smoothly and quietly.

5Know your ABE fire extinguisher

Our building's common areas are fitted with ABE dry chemical powder extinguishers. In Australia these are the red cylinders with a white band and a label showing A, B and E.

• A – ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, fabric and plastic
• B – flammable liquids such as petrol and solvents
• E – electrical equipment, such as a burning fan, dryer or power board

Where to find one

Take a minute this week to find the extinguisher nearest your unit, so you are not looking for it during an emergency. Extinguishers are wall-mounted in the common areas on each level, usually near the lift lobby or the fire stairs. Look for the red sign with a white extinguisher symbol above or beside the bracket.

How to use it: remember PASS

1. Pull the pin. This breaks the tamper seal.
2. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the flames, from about 2–3 metres away.
3. Squeeze the handle firmly to release the powder.
4. Sweep from side to side across the base of the fire until it is out.

After any use, even a short burst, please tell the Building Manager so the extinguisher can be replaced or recharged.