Smoke alarms alert occupant to fire

A woman was woken up by her smoke alarms after her tumble dryer caught fire.

Firefighters were called to a semi-detached house in Manor Road, Benfleet today at 6.48am.

A tumble dryer in the kitchen had caught fire and filled the house with smoke.

Crew Manager Sam Panzetta said: "Fortunately, the property had two working smoke alarms, one on each floor, which woke up the occupant.

"After realising what was happening, she did the right thing: she got out, stayed out and called 999.

"Crews were on the scene quickly, extinguished the fire and used a fan to clear the smoke.

"This incident really highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms. If you or someone you know doesn’t have working smoke alarms at home, please get in touch with our Service. Visit essex-fire.gov.uk/book or call 0300 303 0088."

The fire was fully extinguished by 7.21am.

Using a tumble dryer?

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
• Don’t use tumble dryers at night or while unattended
• Clean the filters after each use to ensure they do not become blocked
• Ensure that the appliance has its own plug socket - don't overload extension leads

You can also register your tumble dryer at www.registermyappliance.org.uk, who will contact you for FREE if there are any safety issues or product recalls related to any of your appliances.