MAWWFRS Issue Tumble Dryer Safety Message Following Tumble Dryer Fire In Swansea

On Wednesday night at 8.36pm (20/07/2016) crews from Swansea West and Swansea Central attended a tumble dryer fire in Sketty. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fire originated in the tumble dryer and spread to the work top. The fire was confined to the kitchen area, which crews extinguished using 4 Breathing Apparatus, 2 Hose Reel Jets, 2 Thermal Imaging Cameras and 1 Positive Pressure Ventilation Fan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Firefighters left the scene at 9.06pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deputy Head of Community Safety Steve Davies advises the public, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have attended 11 incidents of fires involving tumble dryers in 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To avoid a fire caused by a tumble dryer in your home please follow these simple safety tips: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the use and maintenance of the appliance
• Clean the lint trap after every use – the build-up of lint or fluff can cause fires
• Don’t overload plug sockets – the high wattage for a tumble dryer means that it needs its own 13-amp socket.
• Don’t leave appliances unattended – don’t turn the tumble dryer on before you leave the house or go to bed.
• Tumble dryers contain powerful motors with fast moving parts that get very hot.
• Don’t ignore warning signs – If you can smell burning or clothes feel hotter at the end of cycle, have your appliance checked out.
• Don’t overload your tumble dryer or put items in that have been used to soak up flammable liquids including cooking oil.

Finally, it is of vital importance that you have a working smoke alarm in your home. For more details on home fire safety or to get in contact with us regarding home fire safety please visit our website.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​