Tumble dyer warning from firefighters after tea towel with cooking oil on it causes fire in Northamptonshire home

Firefighters have issued a safety warning after a tea towel with cooking oil on it was found to be the cause of a tumble dryer fire in Northamptonshire.

The incident happened in Holcot on Tuesday (May 9) just before 10pm. One of the resident required hospital treatment following the incident.

A Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) spokesman said: “Crews from Moulton and Brixworth were shortly on the scene after receiving the call just before 10pm but found that the fire was out on arrival. They removed the damaged tumble dryer from the property and dampened it down using a hose reel jet and monitored the temperature using a thermal imaging camera.

“One of the homeowners suffered from smoke inhalation and was given oxygen therapy by the crews. They were then able to be taken to Northampton General Hospital in their own vehicle, which was escorted to the hospital by the Brixworth crew to ensure they arrived safely. Once there, they were left in the care of nursing staff.”

NFRS says tea towels should be washed on a hot wash if they have been on contact with oil. If they have been washed on too cold a temperature, oil residue can be left behind.

Safety tips for tumble dryers:

• Do not put rags or materials into your tumble dryer if they have been used to soak up flammable liquids
• Remove the lint (fluff) from the filter after every load of clothes you dry
• Never cover any vents
• Ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks and is not being crushed in any way
• Register your appliance by visiting registermyappliance.org.uk