According to the NFPA, between 2010 & 2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year.
These fires resulted in annual losses estimated at:
- 13 civilian deaths
- 440 civilian injuries
- $238 million in direct property damage
What caused the fires?
- The leading items first ignited in clothes dryer fires were dust, fiber, or lint (27%) and clothing (26%). In washing machine fires, the leading items first ignited were electrical wire or cable insulation (26%) and appliance housing or casing (24%).
- Most of these home fires involved clothes dryers (92%).
- The leading cause (31%) of home clothes dryer and washer fires was failure to clean.
Make sure you clean the lint trap in your dryer before or after EVERY load of laundry and remove lint that has collected around the inside of the dryer. For additional tips on clothes dryer safety, click here.