Families in Nottinghamshire are being asked to check the safety of home white goods after four fires linked to product recalls in the space of a week.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says it has just attended four fires in one week where homeowners were unaware of outstanding notices.
Advice has been issued to anyone who has owned a product for two years or more and those who have inherited goods from previous tenants after four fires occurred in one week where homeowners were unaware of outstanding recall notices.
In one incident, a father from Clipston-on-the-Wolds, Simon Porter, was at home with his wife and three-month old daughter when smoke alarms began to sound and smoke poured from their tumble dryer in the utility room.
Mr Porter, who later found out his appliance was on the recall list, said: “We were very shocked at what happened as the last thing we expected to be on fire was our tumble dryer.
“Firefighters arrived and put the fire out, and we later found out that our dryer is on the recall list.
“We are set to have a home visit from the manufacturer who we have contacted about the fire and we would urge others to check their appliances and smoke alarms as if it had not been for our working alarms, we would not have known about the fire.”
In one incident, a father from Clipston-on-the-Wolds, Simon Porter, was at home with his wife and three-month old daughter when smoke alarms began to sound and smoke poured from their tumble dryer in the utility room.
Mr Porter, who later found out his appliance was on the recall list, said: “We were very shocked at what happened as the last thing we expected to be on fire was our tumble dryer.
“Firefighters arrived and put the fire out, and we later found out that our dryer is on the recall list.
“We are set to have a home visit from the manufacturer who we have contacted about the fire and we would urge others to check their appliances and smoke alarms as if it had not been for our working alarms, we would not have known about the fire.”
New rules means an appliance buyer’s details must be recorded to allow manufacturers to notify them of any potential recalls.
But before this manufacturers were only required to advertise recalls on their websites and in the media so that consumers could check their goods themselves.
This means that owners of any white goods more than two years old are not known to the manufacturer and, as such, they cannot be contacted if required to alert them to the safety recall.
Ian Tomlin, a Notts Fire Investigation Officer, said: “As we have seen in these four incidents, you might not always be aware that your belongings are subject to recall notices and if left unchecked this could put you and your family in danger.
“If you think that your appliance could be part of a manufacturer’s recall then check with them, this can be done by visiting the manufacturer’s website. In the case of tumble dryers, it is essential that the filters are cleaned out regularly, do not operate them at night whilst you are in bed or during times when you are not at home.
“Also ensure that you have correctly positioned working smoke detectors which are tested regularly.”
