Fire crews have warned families in Crewe and Nantwich after 12 fires involving tumble dryers in just three months in Cheshire.
Two fires happened in one day in the latest incidents, one in Crewe and one in Ellesmere Port, on January 17-18.
Before that, two happened on the same day on January 6 in Sandbach and Warrington.
Fire experts say causes are usually over-hearing, a build up of highly inflammable fluff, or electrical faults.
Now Cheshire Fire and Rescue is urging families to keep them clean and never leave them unattended when in use, and never, ever put them on in the night when the household is asleep.
Head of Prevention Nick Evans said: “Altogether in the last three months we have had to extinguish 12 fires involving tumble dryers and a few of these have occurred while people were in bed.
“We know that tumble dryers are being used more now the weather has turned.
“So it is important that anyone using one follows some basic, but vital, safety advice to reduce the risk of fire.
“Simple steps include ensuring you remove the lint after every load of clothes has been dried, and never leaving the dryer running overnight or while you are out.”
Further safety advice when using tumble dryers includes:
• Remove the lint from the trap after every load of clothes dried
• Do not cover the vent or any other opening
• Ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks and is not crushed in any way
• Only used recommended vent pipes, and not improvised ones
• Only vent the warm air to the outside of a building
• Do not put rags or materials into your tumble dryer if they have been used to soak up flammable liquids.
Nick added: “Residents also need to put registering domestic appliances at the top of their list to reduce the risk of home fires.”
You can do this by visiting www.registermyappliance.org.uk – a website run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA).
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