March 29, 2024

Clean Out the Dryer, Avoid a Fire

dryer fire

Posted by Judith Sterling
Nationwide Insurance
Pax II Leader

dryer fireAn estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated $35 million in property losses, according to a new government report.

The report by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) said that 84 percent of clothes dryer fires took place in residential buildings.

Also, according to the report:

  • Clothes dryer fire incidence in residential buildings was higher in the fall and winter months, peaking in January at 11 percent.
  • Failure to clean (34 percent) was the leading factor contributing to the ignition of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
  • Dust, fiber and lint (28 percent) and clothing not on a person (27 percent) were, by far, the leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires in residential buildings.
  • Fifty-four percent of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings were confined to the object of origin.

The report, “Clothes Dryer Fires in Residential Buildings,” examines characteristics of clothes dryer fires in residential buildings and was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center, based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

Judith Sterling of Nationwide Insurance in Great Mills, Maryland recommends making sure that your dryer is properly installed and maintained.

Sterling also recommends that you clean lint, a highly combustible material, out of the dryer and in the dryer vent. Accumulated lint leads to reduced airflow and poses a fire hazard.  Reduced airflow can also occur when foam-backed rugs or athletic shoes are placed in dryers.

Finally, she says to check to make sure that small birds or other animals are not nesting in dryer exhaust vents. A compromised vent will not exhaust properly, possibly resulting in overheating and/or fire.

nationwide.com

Leave A Comment