Six tumble dryer fires in seven weeks

Rhian Price said she was "very grateful" to the man who woke her family up after her house caught fire

Multiple tumble dryer fires happened over the past seven weeks in north Wales with several people taken to hospital.

On Tuesday, faulty tumble dryers caused house fires in Mynytho on the Llyn Peninsula and in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service added there were fires thought to be caused by tumble dryers in Broughton and Buckley in Flintshire and Denbigh and Ruthin in Denbighshire.

Rhian Price, a BBC Wales journalist said she was “very grateful” to a passer-by who woke her and her family to save them from a house fire on 9 April.

She said: "We were all asleep, all four of us in the house at 2 o'clock in the morning, when someone came and knocked very heavily on the door and shouted at us all to get out, we had no idea why because inside the house there was no indication that there was a fire anywhere near the property.

"We walked through the house and it was only when I got to the conservatory that I had any kind of inkling that there was a fire, as I could see an orange glow emanating from somewhere.

“I could see that the utility where the tumble dryer and washing machine are housed that there were very fierce flames coming from the area, and that we needed to act quickly.”

Fire safety advice

• Do not overload plug sockets - keep an eye out for any scorching or burn marks, including checking any visible electrical wires

• Do not leave appliances unattended – do not turn the tumble dryer on before you leave the house or go to bed.

• Keep your dryer well ventilated, make sure the vent pipe is kink free and not blocked or crushed in any way

• Always clean out the filter after using your tumble dryer

• Always allow each drying programme, including the 'cool down cycle', to complete fully before emptying the machine

• Do not ignore the warning signs – if you can smell burning or clothes feel hotter at the end of the cycle, stop using your appliance and have it checked out by a professional

Ms Price said there were "very fierce flames" coming from the utility room

Ms Price said the fire brigade “arrived very quickly” and “dealt with it extremely professionally and efficiently and with great kindness”.

"It's been very hectic... the shock doesn't quite hit you for a while afterwards,” Ms Price said.

Ms Price and her family were able to leave their home quickly, but at the fire which began just before 17:00 BST in Mynytho on the Llyn Peninsula two people were taken to hospital and treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a fire damaged two properties on 25 March in Broughton, Flintshire.

There were also fires on 6 March in Denbigh, Denbighshire, 3 March in Buckley, Flintshire and 28 February in Ruthin, Denbighshire.

The fire service asked residents to ensure they use tumble dryers safely and they have working smoke alarms.

Paul Kay, head of fire safety advised residents to have an escape plan, and once out of the building never go back in.

"No trend had been identified as yet with make or models.

"We're undertaking an internal review of all incidents to better understand if there is any correlation," he said.