City Subscriptions

  1. City of Duluth
  2. Web Subscriptions
  3. View Press Release

View Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Fire Department
602 West Second Street • Duluth, Minnesota 55802
218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact Kelli Latuska,
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
DATE: 3/17/2014
SUBJECT: Clothes Dryer Safety
BY: Deputy Chief Charlie Smith

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Structure Fires
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 3/16/2014
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION:

The Duluth Fire Department was busy yesterday, responding to over 30 incidents including three structure fires.  Two of the structure fires were attributed to clothes dryers and occurred just hours apart.  Thankfully the damage was not more severe, with your Duluth Firefighters saving over $500,000 in property.

The National Fire Protection Association and United State Fire Administration provide the following information regarding clothes washer and dryer fires:

Dryers and washing machines were involved in one out of every 22 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2006-2010.

Taking care of your clothes dryer is important for home fire safety. The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them. An estimated 2,900 home dryer fires happen every year, causing 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Visit the U.S. Fire Administration's website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov for a few simple safety tips to help you prevent a clothes dryer fire.

Educate yourself and be safe!!