Duluth Fire Department Warns Of Hazards Of Not Maintaining Your Clothes Dryer

One thing people forget about is their clothes dryer. Keep the lint trap free of build up and make sure your automatic setting works if you use that setting. Also, make sure you aren't drying something thin enough to catch on fire, which may require you watch your heat setting.

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.

That's just the ones that are reported. For more information visit the website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov for a few simple safety tips to help you prevent a clothes dryer fire