Clothes Dryer Fire Safety Tips

Over the last several months, MCFRS has responded to a number of clothes dryer related fires. A lack of maintenance, buildup of lint, placing inappropriate items in the dryer and inadequate venting are frequently cited as contributing factors. Please take a moment to review some very important tips below as part of our 101 Days of Summer Safety.

Did You Know?

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 15,500 clothes dryer fires occur annually, causing an average of 10 deaths, 310 injuries and more than $84.4 million in property damage.
• Eighty-percent of American homes have clothes dryers.
• A full load of wet clothes placed in a dryer contains about one half gallon of water. As the clothes dry, lint forms and builds up, reducing airflow in the dryer's vent, potentially causing the dryer to work improperly or overheat.

Clothes Dryer DOs:

• DO clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying EACH load of clothes.
• DO clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. 
• DO have a certified service technician clean and inspect the dryer and venting system regularly.
• DO replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting, which provides maximum airflow.
• DO keep the area around the dryer clean and free from clutter.
• DO always use the appropriate electrical outlet for dryers and all major appliances.

Clothes Dryer DON'Ts:

• DON'T place clothing or fabric stained with a flammable substance, such as alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers or motor oil, in the dryer. Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode. Instead, dry the materials outdoors.
• DON'T leave a dryer operating if you are not home.
• DON'T forget to read the manufacturer warnings in the user manual and on the inside of the dryer door
DON'T dry any item containing foam, rubber or plastic, such as bathroom and non-slip rugs and athletic shoes.
DON'T dry any item that contains glass fiber materials, such as a blouse or sweater with glass buttons or decorations.
DON'T overload the dryer with wet clothes.

Working Smoke Alarm Alerts Family To Colesville Fire

On Thursday, June 30, at approximately 10:20 p.m. MCFRS units were dispatched to the 1100 block of Rosemere Avenue in the Colesville area of the County for a reported house fire. Units from Fire Station #24 arrived on the scene and reported fire showing from the rear basement and first floor areas of a two-story single family home.

All four occupants of the home were safely out, as a smoke alarm alerted them, and firefighters rapidly initiated efforts to extinguish the fire. Firefighters encountered a heavy fire load and hoarding conditions throughout the home which initially presented difficulties in extinguishing the fire. A Rapid Intervention Dispatch (RID), Task Force and Second Alarm were called to assist and a short time later the fire was declared under control. Approximately 85 firefighters were on the scene.

The homeowner indicated he heard what he thought to be the smoke alarm sounding in the basement. He made his way around the outside of the house and opened the basement door to find a fire inside near the laundry room. An effort was made to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher during which the homeowner received a minor injury to his hand.

Fire Investigators were called to the scene to conduct an Origin and Cause investigation. Due to conditions, investigators were hampered though the area of origin was determined to be in the basement. Currently the cause of the fire is undetermined.

There were no injuries to fire and rescue personnel and one minor injury to the homeowner. Damages were estimated to be $200,000.00 to the structure and $75,000.00 to the contents. Two adults and two children have been displaced as a result of the fire.

Reminder: Working smoke alarms alerted the family to the fire. Working smoke alarms save lives!

Fire and Explosive Investigators Arrest Hyattsville Man For Arson

On Monday, April 4 at approximately 7:09 a.m. MCFRS units responded to 9910 Walker House Road in Gaithersburg for a report of fire in the trash room. First arriving units found the fire had already been extinguished by an occupant of the apartment building.

An eyewitness reported an individual leaving the trash room around the time the fire was discovered. Montgomery County Police were contacted, quickly issued a lookout alert, and were able to locate a suspect matching the witness description a short time later at the Gaithersburg Public Library.

While still on scene of the trash room fire at 9910 Walker House Road, occupants from 9904 and 9902 Walker House Road alerted fire and rescue personnel to small fires that had occurred in the trash rooms in those buildings as well. MCFRS Fire Investigators were called to the scene and confirmed the fires had been intentionally set in all three buildings.  

As a result of the investigation, Montgomery County Fire Investigators have arrested Theophilus Robinson, age 21, of Hyattsville, Maryland.  He has been charged with three (3) counts of Arson in the first-degree and three (3) counts of Reckless Endangerment. He is currently being processed and held at the Central Processing Unit on Seven Locks Road in Rockville.

The investigation is ongoing. Fire Investigators indicate there have been multiple, and similar, fires in close proximity to Walker House Road in recent months, as well as in the greater Silver Spring area. Anyone with information regarding Mr. Robinson, or any suspicious fires in the area, are asked to contact the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Arson Tip Line at 240.777.2263.