The Greeneville Housing Authority is taking measures to prevent fires caused by aging refrigerators in GHA residences, according to Rebecca Moyer Adams, executive director.

Adams told GHA's board of directors on Tuesday that the preventive measures were taken after a second refrigerator fire this year.

In January, Adams reported that a GHA unit was damaged by smoke because of a fire that started in a refrigerator. On Tuesday, she reported the second fire and said all aging refrigerators have been removed from GHA units.

In addition, GHA maintenance staff have cleaned the coils of the refrigerators in all 325 units, Adams said.

A letter has been sent to all GHA residents asking them to clean their refrigerator coils once a month, Adams added.

No injuries were reported in the two fires.

In other business, the board voted to write off 12 sets of Venetian blinds that have been replaced in the community room on Cox Circle.

Adams reported that GHA had 11 applicants on its April waiting list for occupancy of housing units -- six for one-bedroom units and five for two-bedroom units.

Adams also reported that 205 work orders for repairs to GHA units were issued in April, and 204 were complete.

Of the 205 work orders, 17 were considered to be emergency repairs, she said.

The Housing Authority's board will not meet in June. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15.