Tumble dryer fire

Firefighters have given safety advice after a tumble dryer caused a fire in a garage. 

Crews from Brentwood and Chelmsford were called to Clavery Way, Hutton at 2.20pm and found a tumble dryer on fire in a heavily smoke logged garage. 

Watch Manager Ben Stapleton said: “Crews worked hard to stop the fire from spreading into the house. Unfortunately there was some fire damage to the roof, crews made it as safe as it can be for the windy weather.

“Incidents like this highlight the importance of having a smoke alarm not only on every level of your property but in any room such as the garage, if you’re using electrical appliances. Even if you don’t hear it, your neighbours might. The home owners were only alerted to this fire by the electrics cutting out and the smell of burning.”

Follow our advice to stay safe using your 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 with fluff
• Items should be removed from the dryer immediately after the cycle and shaken loose to assist cooling
• Ensure that the appliance has its own plug socket. Do not overload extension leads. Ensure that no more than 13 amps are in any one plug socket