In 2010, an estimated 16,8 00 reported U.S. home * structure fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines ( including combination washer/dryers ) resulted in an estimated :
- 51 civilian deaths
- 38 0 civilian injuries
- $ 236 million in direct property damage
Leading Items First Ignited in Non – Confined Fires Involving Cloth es Washer or Clothes Dryer, 2006 – 2010
|Dust, fiber, or lint||29%||Wire or cable insulation||26%|
|Clothing||28%||Appliance housing or casing||21%|
|Unclassified soft goods or clothing||9%||Drive belt||15%|
In 2006 – 2010:
- Most (8 1 %) home structure fires involving washers or dryers began in a laundry room or area.
- Most of these home fires in volve clothes dryers (92%) .
- The risk of fire is roughly equal for gas – fueled clothes dryers and electric – powered clothes dryers.
- The leading cause (32 % ) of home clothes dryer and washe r fires was failure to clean.
* Homes are dwellings, duplexes, manufactured homes, apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, and condominiums.
Estimates are derived from the U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Incide nt Reporting System (NFIRS) Version 5.0 and NFPA’s annual fire department experience survey.