Public urged to check over home appliances following a fire in Cannock

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to check over their home appliances following a fire at a home in Cannock.

It’s after crews from Cannock and Rugeley were called to reports of a tumble dryer fire shortly before 7:30am on Wednesday (25 November). 

Two breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet were used as crews extinguished the fire. A man and his dog were also rescued by firefighters.

Fortunately, the fire did not spread and the tumble dryer was removed from the premises before the property – a two storey, semi-detached house – was ventilated.

A safety inspection was carried out and fire safety advice issued to the owner.

Following this incident and in support of the Service's electrical safety campaign Watts The Danger, senior fire officers are reminding people to ensure their appliances are in good working order before use and that they’re correctly registered. 

Mark Downes from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue said: “This incident today is one of a number of recent incidents where we’ve been called to fires involving home appliances.

“We want people to remember to ensure that they don’t leave your washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher one overnight or when you go out and ensure, that when using your tumble dryer, you regularly clean the filter and remove fluff.

“You can also protect yourself by registering your appliance – which takes minutes to do.

“It means that manufacturers can contact you if that product has been noted as faulty or dangerous, and advise on the next steps.

“If you are concerned about the safety of a product please stop using it immediately.”

The register my appliance website is designed to make it quicker and easier for the public to register all of their appliances. It provides up-to-date, accurate, contact information for owners who have acquired specific models of appliances within the last twelve years, so manufacturers can issue safety updates or repair notifications to the right homes. The website provides access to the registration pages of over 40 leading brands of domestic appliances, including most of the UK’s top-selling brands of major white goods.

You can also check if any of your electrical goods have been recalled by visiting the Electrical Safety First. 

For more information on how you can stay safe and prevent fires due to electrical items in your home visit the Watts The Danger campaign page.