Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FAMILY FLEE DRYER FIRE
Daughter raises alarm after Wi-fi signal is broken
A DAD has told of his family’s lucky escape after their tumble dryer caught fire while they were in bed.
Patrick Durand said the alarm was only raised after his 14-year-old daughter Alexandra noticed the Wi-fi had been disconnected.
The dad-of-three, from Portadown, Co Armagh, investigated and was horrified to discover a blaze in his garage. He added if he had not had a mini fire extinguisher in his car, it could have been a lot worse.
Patrick told the Mirror: “It is unreal and very scary, you never think it could happen to you. A lot of people do not have a smoke alarm in the garage and a lot of people would have their washing machine and tumble dryer in there and use them at night.
“Last night we went to bed about 11.30pm and I went straight to sleep as I was working the next day. At 11.45pm my daughter came into the room and asked why the Wi-fi was not working.
“I was half asleep but I said I would get up, lucky I did. I went downstairs and could smell something in the hall. I thought something must have short circuited so I went to the garage to get a screwdriver.
“When I opened the door the smoke was unbelievable. I could not see anything, just the flames from the tumble dryer and the plastic was melting.
“I ran back to my car as I have a fire extinguisher. We are grateful Alexandra noticed the Wi-fi. We have a fire door on the garage and close the living room and kitchen doors but our fire alarms are in the hall and upstairs.
“It could have been really bad, especially if it had happened while we were sleeping.”