Facts about home clothes dryer fires
Updated: Feb 8, 2022
2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss.
Failure to clean the dryer (34 percent) is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires.
More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January.
Did you know? You are at higher risk of having a clothes dryer fire if you don’t clean your lint filter and dryer vents. Follow these simple safety tips to 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. Clean the lint filter before and after each cycle.
Do not forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can build up.
Check the venting system behind the dryer to make sure that it is not damaged, crushed or restricted.
Make sure that the outdoor vent covering opens when the dryer is operating. For more information and free fire-safety resources, visit www.usfa.fema.gov.
Who you gonna call? Lint Busters!