A Cartrefi Conwy resident is sharing her story to warn others about the dangers of leaving household appliances running unattended after a devastating tumble dryer fire recently caused severe damage to her home. 

Jaqueline had left her tumble dryer running before leaving her property in Llandudno Junction. The tumble dryer, which was located in the hallway of the property, became involved in fire - causing severe fire and smoke damage to her home.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident and managed to rescue Jaqueline’s dog Rupert from the property. However, the fire caused extensive damage to the house, leaving it unsafe to live in while significant repairs are carried out. As a result, Jaqueline is currently having to live in alternative accommodation while restoration work on her home is underway.

A fire investigation concluded that the fire was thought to have been caused by an electrical fault within the appliance. Over the past three years, the Service has attended 56 fires caused by tumble dryers.

Ruth Bateman of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who was one of the officers who attended the incident, said:

“A fire in the home can be a devastating experience and so I want to thank Jaqueline for sharing her story to help others.

“This incident serves as an important reminder for residents to take extra care when using tumble dryers in their home.

“Some key safety advice I would give to help protect your home from tumble dryer fires is:

• Don’t leave appliances running while you are asleep or away from the home.
• Regularly clean the filters and ensure appliances are properly maintained.
• Keep your dryer well-ventilated and make sure the vent pipe is kink free and not blocked or crushed in any way.
• Don’t overload plug sockets and keep an eye out for any scorching or burn marks, including checking any visible electrical wires.
• Avoid overloading your machine - overloading leads to longer drying times and overheating.
• Do not dry contaminated items: Avoid drying clothes with oil, grease, or solvent stains as these can ignite.
• Always allow each drying programme, including the ‘cool down cycle’, to complete fully before emptying the machine. If you stop the machine mid cycle, the clothing will still be hot.
• Ensure that your dryer is placed in a suitable location that does not obstruct any escape routes.

“Following these steps can help reduce the risk of fires in your home.

“In addition, always ensure that you have working smoke alarms and that you test them once a week – smoke alarms save lives.

“I would also highly recommend residents register their appliances so that manufacturers can contact you in the event of a product recall – this can be done at www.registermyappliance.org.uk.”

Dan Hall, Executive Director of Customer and Communities at Cartrefi Conwy added:

“This incident highlights how quickly a fire can spread and the devastating impact it can have on people’s lives. We are supporting Jaqueline and her family while repairs to her home are carried out and would encourage all residents to think carefully about appliance safety in their homes. We also urge all tenants to ensure that their means of escape are always kept clear, and that tumble dryers should never be located within exit routes.”

Jaqueline hopes her experience will encourage others to take appliance safety seriously and help prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.