House fire in our community -- caused by dryer

16 years ago

Last week, a house in our area burned and collapsed - due to a dryer fire. The family got out in time, but it's still a tragedy and a loss.

My father-in-law was a Firefighter for 30 years and his son and I owned an appliance repair business for 15+ years and after reading about this house fire, I'd like to remind folks that you should have your dryers serviced/cleaned on a regular basis.

In the process of drying clothes (particularly cotton clothes) lint builds up *inside the cabinet* (where you can't see it) and that's when dryers become a fire hazard. Sometimes, birds build nests in the dryer outlet, obtructing the airflow and that can also cause overheating and fire. An appliance repairman will check the dryer's thermostats and operating temperatures.

I can't tell you how many times we saw dryers that had caught fire and somehow - by some miracle - the fire didn't spread beyond the dryer cabinet.

If your dryer is slow to dry clothes (drying times in excess of 50 minutes) or if the clothes are too hot to touch at the end of the cycle, and/or if you can't feel a strong breeze at your dryer outlet, you should have your dryer serviced.

Rose

Here is a link that might be useful: How to find a good appliance repairman

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Comments (10)

msmarion
16 years ago
Great advice Rose. I never leave the house until the dryer has finished it's cycle.
nodakgal
16 years ago
Good advice. GF of mine had a fire behind her dryer, apparnetly her DD threw a load of dry clothes on top of the dryer and put another load into the dryer....not sure how long they'd sat there, but a handtowel somehow went over the back of the dryer and I don't know how, but it ignited. They had a little fire, lots of smoke mainly and didn't lose the house and were very thankful.
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Thanks all, we feel very fortunate too. DH said we had about a 10 minute window if I hadn't seen it, that it probably would have gone into the attic & across the top of the whole house, before the Fire Dept. came. I don't know who called the FD but it wasn't us, so they wouldn't have been here in time. Judith, see outside light in one of the pictures, it was like that one, but the strong winds we had about a week ago had blown the top off of the one in question & broken it, we hadn't had time to replace it before a robin decided to make it her home! Our garbage can was below the light as today was garbage day & DH would have put it out this morning. It was a huge plastic one that the company provides all residents and it melted into our driveway that is why DH also took pics of the driveway. You all know how hot plastic can be when it burns, so I'm sure that complicated the fire! Link to pictures DH took today. Here is a link that might be useful: Fire
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tannatonk23_fl_z9a
16 years ago
Thanks for the reminder. It is time to do that at my house. I'll put it on dh's honey do list today!

We also had a neighbor lose their house to a clothes dryer fire. Very sad.

~Betsy
alisande
16 years ago
I always like to see reminders that we shouldn't leave the house (or go to sleep) when an appliance is running. We had a drye fire here and a dishwasher fire as well.
heather_on
16 years ago
Thanks for the reminder. We also don't leave the house when the washer or dryer is on........we had a flood once when the washer house disconnected.
frostedc
16 years ago
I take the back off my dryer, twice a year, and
vacumn all the dust out. Also clean the exhaust hose too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Do it yourself/ Dryer Hose Maintenance
pattico_gw
16 years ago
We had a fire in our dryer once, many years ago.

I put clothes in the dryer and the kids and left for church. Denny was in bed sleeping.

When I got home the house was real smoky smelling. We checked around to see what it was...and found that lint had caught fire in the dryer. It had burned up all the wiring in the dryer and belts.

We were lucky/blessed....whatever...that it didn't catch anything else on fire and move to the walls. Especially with Denny being asleep.

I never go to bed or leave with the dryer running.

patti
grittymitts
16 years ago
I'd like to add that if your dryer begins to make a squeaking sound or unusual noise of ANY kind, call an appliance service person immediately!

When I was a property manager a resident caused a fire by ignoring the loud squeak from her dryer; according to Fire Marshall, burned out bearing resulted in high heat which then ignited pile of lint a towel behind the machine. Neighbors had complained to her for weeks, but never told me. (I'd have had an inspection done right away.) Guess she didn't want anyone to know what a horrible housekeeper she was.

The 1600 sq ft apartment was a total loss & Fire Marhsall pointed out the property provided smoke detector with melted cover that had dripped down the wall- base was still intact... without a battery!

Because of her negligence, lives of SIX families were put at risk. She wanted another apartment- I said "No," and guess what?? She had the nerve to ask for full refund of her deposit. I assured her I would, as soon as she paid the $30,000.+ restoration charges.

Within a few days a program was initiated to inspect all 526 units twice a year with one week prior notice by mgmt.
Suzi
sjerin
16 years ago
People do dumb things. My dd's ballet teacher told me that a family renting a house from them had clothes stacked against the fireplace flue, (the firefighters found after the fact,) and the house burned. She said their renters regularly take out the alarm's batteries to put to other uses, so she and her husband make regular inspections and reload the batteries themselves.
cate52
16 years ago
my bad -- I usually start the dishwasher when leaving for work. BUT! I do have those heavyduty water lines on my washer & turn them off when leaving for vacation/weekend. A family down the street had them burst while gone on Spring Vacation - they had to replace carpet - drywall - furniture etc. were out of their house for over 2 months.

House fire in our community -- caused by dryer

Comments (10)

msmarion

nodakgal

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