Malfunctioning Exhaust Fan Releases Electrical Smoke
Around 4:06 pm the fire alarm sounded when the bathroom exhaust fan malfunctioned in one of the resident’s rooms, causing the sprinkler system in the bathroom to go off. An electrical burning smell was noted in the hallway, and all the residents on that hall were immediately evacuated from the area. The fire doors automatically closed when the alarm sounded. Staff confirmed that all residents were safe and accounted for. The resident in whose room the fire started was close to his room but not inside it. None of the residents were injured by the fire vent.
The Fire Department arrived at the facility at 4:30 pm, and the maintenance director shut off the sprinkler valve once it was confirmed that there was no fire. The electricity was also shut off on that hallway, and a fire watch was initiated according to the facility’s protocol for emergency situations. After inspecting the facility, the Fire Department gave an all clear at about 5:15 pm. The facility’s electrician capped off wires to the exhaust fan and gave the ok to turn the power back on in the hallway at 6:15 pm. The fire watch continued until the system was back in operation. The facility designated one person to be responsible for the fire watch until the system was reset. The alarm company that monitors the sprinkler system came the next day and replaced the bathroom sprinkler head and reinitiated the sprinkler system.
All residents were given respiratory assessments with no negative findings. The residents on the affected hallway returned to their rooms, except for the resident in the room where the malfunction occurred. He was temporarily relocated. The families of the residents were notified of the event. The hallway and areas near the hallway were cleaned, and fans were set up to clear the air. The resident’s clothing was removed from the incident room, and an inventory of his personal items was completed. It was noted that nothing was damaged. All other residents’ rooms and hallways were assessed for water damage and were cleaned, with no noted areas of floor seepage. A dehumidifier was placed in the hallway. The incident was reported to the State Agency and to the State Fire Marshall.
A performance improvement plan was developed that included checking all exhaust fans throughout the facility. Staff observed for residents who might develop new symptoms of respiratory illness due to exposure to the electrical smoke and water. The staff’s response to the evacuation was scheduled for review and analysis for areas of weakness and/or corrections if indicated. Staff will be educated to correct any weak areas noted by the review, and also made aware of identified strengths. Housekeeping will observe for mold for three months. All information, including any concerns or areas for improvement, will be summarized and submitted to QAPI for review and recommendation.
