Yeovil property badly damaged by tumble dryer fire

There are fresh warnings over tumble dryers after yet another fire in the West.>Crews were called to Chelston Avenue, Yeovil on Saturday (5 March) where they found there'd been severe fire damage to the utility area of Emma Rickerby's house.

The Devon and Somerset fire service say there was also severe smoke damage to the rest of her property.

Emma's neighbour says the gas and electricity has been turned off and another says Emma's father put her up in a hotel since the chaos.

It was lunchtime and Mrs Rickerby, five of her six children, one grandchild and three other people were in the house, but the tumble dryer was in a utility room at the back of the house when it burst into flames and no one knew. Emma says she's just thankful everyone got out safely.>If it had happened at night she fears they all might have been killed.

Mrs Rickerby says her Indesit tumble dryer's filter had been cleaned but it still erupted in flames. The fire has destroyed everything from the children's school clothes to their microwave oven. >She wasn't insured and friends and neighbours have been donating things.

Mrs Rickerby says there was no indication that her tumble dryer was going to turn into a potential killer. It was well maintained she says and she only bought it last October so it was only 5 months old and she says she'll never buy another one.>One woman has appealed for people to help the family on Twitter.

There have been hundreds of reports of fires across the country thought to have been caused by Hotpoint, Creda and Indesit dryers.

• Could your tumble dryer cause a fire?

Charity Electrical Safety First, and fire services are warning home owners to avoid using appliances that have been recalled.

It made the appeal after Whirlpool, who own the brands Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda, said it was safe to use their products as long as they weren't left unattended, were regularly cleaned and well ventilated.

• Whirlpool: 'The waiting times for repairs are longer than we would want at this stage'

TOP TIPS FOR TUMBLE DRYER SAFETY

• Don't leave them on when you're out of the house

• Don't leave them going overnight

• Don't leave your lint tray full