Apr 14, 2008 9:35 pm US/Eastern
Dryer Believed To Be Cause Of Fatal Milton Fire
MILTON, Mass. (WBZ) ―
A dryer is believed to be behind the cause of a house fire that ripped through a Milton triple-decker, killing one man.
The blaze started on Monday just after noon in a laundry room on the second floor of the home on Sheldon Street.
Investigators believe the lint from the dryer built up in a vent pipe, began to heat up and eventually caught fire. The fire spread to the third floor, where a man was found in a bedroom.
Investigators are not releasing the victim's name.
Fire officials are now issuing a warning about dryer safety. "It is important to clean the lint filter in a clothes dryer after every load, and to vacuum the motor area and the dryer vent a few times a year in order to prevent dryer fires," said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan.
According to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System, there were 97 dryer fires in 2006, which resulted in one death and an estimated $489,922 in damages.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Consumer Reports offers the following tips to prevent a dryer fire in your home:
• Use metal dryer ducts. Consumer Reports says that flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic are the most problematic because they can sag and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. Metal ducts, either flexible or solid, are far safer because they don't sag, so lint is less likely to build up. In addition, if a fire does start, a metal duct is more likely to contain it.
• No matter which kind of duct you have, you should clean it regularly. In addition, remove the visible lint from the lint screen each time you use your dryer. This not only will reduce the risk of a fire, but your clothes will dry faster and your dryer will use less energy.
• Clean inside, behind, and underneath the dryer, where lint can also build up.
• Buy dryers that use moisture sensors rather than ordinary thermostats to end the auto-dry cycle. Thermostats can allow the dryer to run longer than necessary.
• Occasionally wipe the sensor with a soft cloth or cotton ball and rubbing alcohol to keep it functioning accurately. Sensors are usually located on the inside of the dryer, just below the door opening, and can be hard to find. They are usually two metallic strips, shaped somewhat like the letter "C".
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