Kingston Fire & Rescue Issue Advise Following Dryer Fire

Published on: 2019/02/11 - in News

Following a home fire started by a dryer on Shillington Place this weekend – fortunately extinguished quickly – Kingston Fire & Rescue has posted some safety advise to avoid dryer fires in your home:

– Clean the lint trap after every use.
– Use an approved aluminum vent.
– Do not place your dryer too closely to a wall. This may cause the vent pipes behind the dryer to kink, which can lead to lint build-up.

– Clean the vent piping once a year, and regularly inspect the interior (backside of the dryer).
– Ensure your vent outside is clear of snow and ice.
– Do not run the dryer while sleeping or when no one is home.
– Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide outside all sleeping areas and on each storey of your home.

In 2010-2014, U.S. municipal fire departments responded to an estimated 15,970 home fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – there don’t appear to be fire statistics involving dryers available for Canada.


Photo: Wikimedia Commons (cc)