Fire Brigade issue warning after flat burned down by tumble dryer

A fire department is warning people of the dangers of tumble dryers following a flat fire.

In Clacton, Essex, a drying cycle ended in disaster, after a flat became engulfed in flames, forcing a family to flee.

Fortunately, they were alerted by their smoke alarm and were able to escape, but the property is no longer inhabitable.

In a statement, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said: "Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a second floor flat in Clacton tonight (Friday 30 December).

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

"When crews arrived they reported the second floor flat was engulfed in fire and full of smoke.

"Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and extinguished the fire. Thanks to the quick actions of the crews, they managed to stop the fire spreading to the adjoining properties.

"The family living in the property were alerted to the fire by their working smoke alarms. When they heard the alarm, they got out, stayed out and called 999.

"The fire started in a tumble dryer. The fire has severely damaged the flat to the extent that it is no longer habitable."

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service

Keen to avert further blazes, the fire department shared some tumble dryer safety tips, which read as follows:

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions
• Don't use tumble dryers at night or while unattended
• Clean the filters after each use to ensure they do not become blocked with fluff
• Items should be removed from the dryer immediately after the cycle and shaken loose to assist cooling
• Ensure that the appliance has its own plug socket. Do not overload extension leads. Ensure that no more than 13 amps are in any one plug socket

It comes after a woman in the US was killed after an artificial Christmas tree burst into flames.

Twenty-two-year-old Destiny Abdrazack, from California, had been celebrating the Christmas holidays at her fiancé's family home in North Highlands when an electrical short caused the blaze to break out at around 2am on 25 December.

Her future father-in-law, Ernest Isom, said that the family had fallen asleep on Christmas Eve and were awoken by Destiny yelling.

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"Unfortunately, they wanted to keep the lights on until the last minute and we all happen to fall asleep and we had an instant, seconds to get out," he said.

"It was fast, and that's how quick it went. I'm talking minutes.

"Unfortunately, she (Destiny) was the one who yelled fire, and that's the sad part. She saved our lives.”

Destiny had alerted the other five people in the home about the fire, who were then able to escape, but she was caught in the blaze along with the family's dogs, KCRA reported.