Laundry Causes Fires: The Danger of Washing and Drying Machines

When one thinks about fires that happen in the home, one may think of fires caused by cooking, candles, or lighters. However, a common cause of house fires stems from something we do very often: laundry; more specifically, washing machines and dryers. According to a 2017 article written by Richard Campbell for the National Fire Protection association (NFPA), there were almost 16,000 reported fires involving washing machines and dryers each year from 2010 to 2014, resulting in a total of a $238 million loss in property damage, 13 deaths, and over 400 injuries.

Most of the time, dryers are the culprit, making up 92% of laundry fires. As dust and lint (usually in clogged ducts and vents) are most likely to ignite, failure to clean the dryers was the largest reason for house fires involving dryers. Additionally, mechanical and electrical malfunctions are also major causes of house fires, both for washing machines and dryers. Data collected in the article supports these claims; the three main factors (failure to clean dryers and mechanical and electrical malfunctions) constituted 78% of all clothing-related house fires.

Of course, as with all house fires, general tips should be utilized, such as installing smoke detectors, having fire extinguishers, and having plans for when a fire occurs. As for clothing-related house fires, however, there are additional steps to be taken to further decrease the chance of fires occurring in washing machines and dryers. Firstly, if it can be helped, make sure to be at home when washing or drying clothes; leaving the fire undetected for hours or even minutes may cause the fire to spread wildly. Additionally, no flammable objects should be placed next to washing machines and dryers; make sure to check for flammable objects that may be attached to clothes or reside in pockets. Furthermore, lint filters in dryers should be cleaned after every load, and ducts should be cleaned annually to prevent dust or lint from catching on fire. Finally, confirming that the washing and drying machines are plugged in properly and checking that outlets have sufficient power to support washing machines and dryers can help prevent electrical mishaps from occurring.

In the case of a fire occurring in a washing machine or dryer, there are many steps to prevent the loss of lives and confine the fire. One should call emergency services and evacuate everyone out of the residence until firefighters arrive. Unless experienced, one should not try to extinguish the fire; failing to do so properly and quickly will only expose fire to more oxygen and cause it to grow. With that being said, one should remember the acronym PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep) for using fire extinguishers. Additionally, if safe enough to do so, it is advisable to try to unplug the washing machines and dryers to cut off electrical current and hamper the fire’s growth.

Although laundry-related fires may seem quite scary, one need not be overly concerned about it. After all, they make up a small percentage of all house fires and cause statistically low casualties. If one cleans their dryers and makes sure that the machines are used properly and suitably (as they too may break or malfunction and cause fires), the chance of a clothes-related house fire happening drastically decreases even more.

-Written by Ethan Liang

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Bibliography:

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/home -fires-involving-clothes-dryers-and-washing-machines https://germaniainsurance.com/blogs/post/germania-insurance-blog/2020/07/17/the-most-commo n-causes-of-dryer-fires-and-how-you-can-prevent-them https://rainbowrestores.com/blog/house-fire-statistics https://www.envistaforensics.com/knowledge-center/insights/articles/dryer-fires-common-causes -and-prevention-tips/