Weekend Dryer Fires In Orange County Prompt OC Fire Warning

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — Each year, firefighters cross the United States respond to over 15,000 home fires caused by dryers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported.

With this statistic in mind — and the fact that Orange County firefighters responded to two home fires caused by dryers over the weekend — the Orange County Fire Authority wants San Clemente residents to take heed of these dryer safety tips to prevent an emergency from hitting their homes.

According to FEMA, the primary cause of home dryer fires is failure to clean them. Fires can spark in your dryer or in the exhaust duct, due to blocked airflow caused by lint build-up. The best way to prevent this from happening is by frequently cleaning your dryer and following these other tips:

• Gas dryers should be installed and inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connections are intact and free of leaks.
• Keep dryer area clear of all combustibles.
• Replace coiled-wire foil or plastic venting with a rigid, non-ribbed metal duct. This allows for maximum airflow and reduces fire risk.
• Make sure that your dryer's air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted.

Residents should never use dryers that don't have lint filters, and should remember to clean the lint filter before or after drying each load of laundry to prevent blocked airflow.

The Orange County Fire Authority additionally reminded residents that damp clothes at the end of a dryer cycle may be an indication of the lint filter or exhaust duct being blocked.

For the full list of tips and tricks posted by the Orange County Fire Authority, visit their Twitter account.