These devastating photographs were taken following a serious fire at a property in Moston.
The fire was caused by a tumble dryer being left unattended while the family slept.
Fortunately, the home was fitted with smoke detectors which activated, waking everyone up so they were able to evacuate safely.
Tumble dryers are notorious for causing house fires in the UK, common causes are mechanical failure, failing to “de-fluff” the machine and overloading.
Domestic appliances caused 2,122 house fires in the UK during 2022/23. Tumble dryers accounted for 593 of these, followed by washing machines and fridge/freezers.
Check your smoke alarms monthly, you can do this by pressing the test button which should sound the alarm – if it doesn’t work, contact us and we will arrange a repair.
How to avoid electrical fires
- Always check that you use the right fuse to prevent overheating.
- Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
- Certain appliances, such as washing machines, should have a single plug to themselves, as they are high powered.
- Try and keep to one plug per socket.
- When charging electrical goods, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and look for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European safety standards.
- Keep your eyes peeled for signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow or circuit-breakers that trip for no obvious reasons, or flickering lights.
- Unplugging appliances helps reduce the risk of fire.
- Unplug appliances when you’re not using them or when you go to bed.
