A tumble dryer burst into flames at a St Clements student accommodation flat on the 25th of June, resulting in the attendance of fire services, according to Oxford Fire and Rescue Service. The Service was called to Allan Bullock Close, following reports that a laundry room was on fire at around 10:30 pm.

Firefighters from Kidlington Fire Station and Slade Fire Station spotted smoke coming from the basement laundry room of the student accommodation block, but the firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and prevent the flames from spreading to other areas in the building. Paul Webster, the incident commander station manager, said that the fire was not suspicious, and was most likely the result of a tumble dryer overheating.

Webster reminded users and landlords of the importance of regularly checking and cleaning filters in order to prevent blockages, as fluff and lint building up inside of the machine can be a fire risk. Webster also pointed out that it was important for users not to overload tumble dryers with clothes, and that manufacturer’s instructions on machine maintenance needed to be closely adhered to. The fire service warned that the incident could have been much more serious, and could have spread throughout the student accommodation building, had residents not been alerted by a working smoke alarm.

Landlords and owners of student accommodation have a duty to ensure their buildings are up to scratch when it comes to fire safety procedures and fire risk assessments. Speak to an expert from Source Fire today for further information.