Deeside tumble dryer fire prompts warning from senior safety officer

A senior fire safety officer is reminding residents of the importance of smoke alarms and not running tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers at night after an incident in Sealand last night.

• Faulty tumble dryer causes 100% fire damage to kitchen in house at Sealand
• Up to three fires a day caused by faulty dryers in Wales and England
• Recalls in place for Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline Tumble Dryers

Crews from Deeside and Flint were called to the property on Green Lane East, Sealand just after midnight, Tuesday July 5 after the male occupant who had left the dryer on to dry closths, was awoken by the sound of a smoke alarm.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the man required ‘oxygen therapy’ at the scene.

The fire caused 100% fire damage the kitchen on the ground floor of the property.

Fire officers believe a fault on the tumble dryer was the cause of the fire.

Jane Honey from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“This incident clearly highlights the importance of smoke alarms and the dangers of running electrical items such as tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers at night.

“I would also advise occupants to take a few steps to ensure that they use their tumble dryers in a safe way. These steps include never overloading the tumble dryer, cleaning the filters regularly and not setting the programme for too long. As we’ve seen last night, you should also never leave the tumble dryer on when you’re in bed or when you go out.

“By carrying out the above precautions you should reduce the risk of a tumble dryer fire. However, you must also ensure that you have a working smoke alarm installed and maintained as they give early warning of a fire.

“In the event of a fire, it is extremely important to get out of the property as quickly as possible and not return into a dangerous area for any reason.

“Smoke alarms give an early warning signal which allows everyone to evacuate as soon as possible. Smoke can be extremely toxic and just a few breaths can be lethal – going back in to save possessions or pets is just not worth the risk.”

Manufacturers recall faulty tumble dryers

Figures show three fires a day are caused by exploding machines.

There were 2,190 tumble dryer-related fires between 2012 and 2014 according to the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents 48 Welsh and English fire and rescue authorities.

Manufacturers Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda are in the process of fixing an estimated 4.3 million faulty tumble dryers across the UK after their parent company, Whirlpool, notified customers of a widespread safety defect last October.

The fault can lead to excess fluff catching the heating element in the machine and potentially causing a fire.

The LGA warned that companies running lengthy repair programmes for potentially dangerous machines instead of recalling them are “risking the lives of millions of customers”.

It also called for all white goods to have fireproof markings on them which allow identification of the manufacturer, model and serial number.

Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline Tumble Dryers – Updated