18 September 2006 (updated 21 September 2006)

Early indications are that a fire which badly damaged a house in Milton Keynes at the weekend started in a tumble dryer which was running while the occupants were out.

It happened just three days after a tumble dryer fire in High Wycombe, and four days before an incident in Gerrards Cross in which smoke started issuing from a dishwasher.

As a safety precaution, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is urging householders to be aware of the risks associated with washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers.

Firefighters were called to a two-storey detached house in Weldon Rise, Loughton, at 12.33pm on Saturday. Three appliances and crews from Great Holm, one from Bletchley and one from Newport Pagnell attended, along with Station Managers Ian Taylor and Paul Harrison. Firefighters used four jets and eight sets of breathing apparatus.

Terry Ridgley, head of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s Community Safety team, said: “We understand the tumble dryer was on while the occupants were out. Once the fire started, it was able to develop undetected.

“This fire has had devastating consequences, although the good news is that no-one was injured.

“We would like to give householders a few simple tips to reduce the chances of suffering this sort of fire.”

General safety

• Don’t leave the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher running overnight or while you are out. They are a fire risk because of their high wattage, friction and motors.

Tumble dryer safety

• Remove the lint from the trap after every load of clothes dried
  
• Do not cover the vent or any other opening
  
• Ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks and is not crushed in any way
  
• Only used recommended vent pipes, and not improvised ones
  
• Only vent the warm air to the outside of a building
  
• Do not put rags or materials into your tumble dryer if they have been used to soak up flammable liquids.

Tell-tale signs that your tumble dryer is not properly ventilated

• Clothes take a very long time to dry, especially heavy articles of clothing such as towels or jeans
  
• Clothes feel hotter than usual at the end of the cycle
  
• The flapper on the vent hood remains closed when the dryer is on