Fire starter
Islanders reminded to clean lint from dryers after blaze destroys home
The P.E.I. Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding Islanders to keep their dyers clean of lint after a home in Bellevue was destroyed last week.
Montague Fire Department responded to the call of a fire in a single-family dwelling April 17.
While the occupants safely exited the house, the fire resulted in a total loss of the structure.
“As soon as we got there, we knew (the fire) was advanced,” said Montague fire chief Tom MacLeod, noting that Murray Harbour Fire Department was also called for mutual aid.
There were high winds that morning and the older home’s post and beam construction allowed the fire to spread through the walls of the house.
“We held it for about two hours and it just got away,” said MacLeod.
The fire marshal’s office ruled the fire as accidental and said the blaze was caused by an accumulation of combustible material in the dryer vent hose that ignited as a result of heat.
MacLeod said the department has seen a number of fires caused by dryer lint over the years.
In fact, the fire marshal’s office said the leading cause of dryer fires is a failure to clean them.
John Chisholm, deputy fire marshal, advised people to clean the lint out of the dryer vent hose on a regular basis, once a year or more often if people notice it is taking longer than normal for clothes to dry.
“If they did it with the spring and fall, that’s even better than once a year,” said Chisholm, adding that those using flex type exhaust piping should at “the very minimum” check the elbows for lint accumulation. “And a big one, is to never leave your dryer running when you’re not in the home.”
Chisholm also advised Islanders to make sure they clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry and remove lint that has collected around the drum.
“It’s always helpful for people to sort of be aware of the common occurrences in their own home that, with a little preventative maintenance, can save them some difficulty in the long run,” said Chisholm.