Henry County Fire Department Encourages Citizens to Prevent Dryer Fires

Did you know that the leading cause of home dryer fires is failure to clean them?

Recently, the Henry County Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire that originated in the clothes dryer.  Fortunately there was no one injured, however because no one was home at the time of the fire, the outcome was a total loss of a home.  To prevent this tragedy, Henry County Fire Department is encouraging citizens to follow a few simple tips to prevent losing their home to fire.

Doing laundry is most likely part of an everyday routine in most households. This routine compounded by very busy, on the go families can result in tragedy if the clothes dryer is not taken care of.  With a few simple tips you can prevent a clothes dryer fire in your home.

• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry.  Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. 
  
• Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
• Keep dryers in good working order.  Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
• Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
• Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload you dryer.
• Always turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.

Other important safety measures include: ensuring that your dryer is properly grounded, checking the outdoor vent flap to make sure it is not covered by pine straw or other debris, keeping the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies, and clothing, etc. Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances, like gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents should be laid outside to dry and then washed and dried as normal.

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