Spate of electrical fires sparks safety warning

A spate of electrical fires across Staffordshire involving white goods has sparked a safety warning.

Six separate incidents, three involving tumble dryers, and one each involving a dishwasher, washing machine and fridge-freezer, occurred during the month of August.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is now urging people to be vigilant while using similar electrical items in the wake of the blazes.

Fire Investigation Officer Paul Shaw said:

Unfortunately six households within Staffordshire have fallen victim of an electrical fire involving white goods during August which is not only very upsetting for those affected, but could potentially have put their lives at risk.

I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is to never leave your washing machine on overnight or when you are out of the property. Tumble dryer filters should be cleaned regularly and fluff removed. Householders should also clean behind fridges and freezers to ensure that the air vents do not become blocked.

Following these safety tips doesn’t take long and they are easy to do but they could save your family’s lives. As an additional but extremely important precaution it is also essential that smoke detectors are fitted on each floor of a property.”

[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]All appliances should be registered on the following website: www.registermyappliance.org.uk

It provides up-to-date, accurate, contact information for owners who have acquired specific models of appliances within the last twelve years, so manufacturers can issue safety updates or repair notifications to the right homes.

The website provides access to the registration pages of more than 40 leading brands of domestic appliances, including most of the UK’s top selling brands of major white goods. [/box]