Don't leave tumble dryers on unattended, warns fire service after two more fires

Faulty tumble dryers cause three fires per day in England and Wales.

Fire services are urging people not to leave tumble dryers on unattended after two fires at Swansea properties over the weekend.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended two incidents at addresses in the Reynoldston and Rhyddings areas of Swansea on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Investigations found that both fires were caused by faulty tumble dryers.

The warning comes after a series of fires caused by faulty tumble dryers in recent months. Figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) show that three fires per day in England and Wales are caused by tumble dryers.

Manufacturers Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda are in the process of fixing dryers across the UK after parent company Whirlpool notified customers of a widespread safety defect last October.

The Draper family's home was left gutted after a faulty tumble dryer. Credit: ITV Wales

Last month, ITV Wales spoke to a family in the Rhondda Valley whose home had been destroyed after a dramatic escape from a tumble dryer-related fire.

Local fire services are now offering free home fire safety checks in a move to prevent further incidents. Information and advice is available on their websites.