Hammersmith & Fulham Council has launched a new campaign to keep residents safe following the recent tower block fire in Shepherds Bush Green.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed that an Indesit tumble dryer is believed to have caused the major tower block blaze at Shepherds Court on Friday 19 August.
Following this, H&F Council is writing to all residents in the borough urging them to check if their tumble dryer is one of several models manufactured by Whirlpool which were subject to recent manufacturer’s safety notice. And if so, stop using it immediately.
Cllr Stephen Cowan, Hammersmith & Fulham Council leader, said: “Whirlpool, are refusing to back London Fire Brigade’s calls for people to immediately stop using these machines.
“As a council, we cannot stand by and allow another fire like the one in Shepherds Bush to happen. That’s why we are working with London Fire Brigade to get this safety advice out to residents across the borough.
“Whirlpool’s lack of action with these faulty washing machines is a scandal. It has even been raised in the House of Commons. While others will rightly continue to lobby Whirlpool to take responsibility and show some leadership on this issue, we will continue to assist our residents as best we can.”
Read a safety letter to residents from Cllr Stephen Cowan (pdf 115KB)
Though the manufacturers say that the machines are safe to use under certain circumstances, the London Fire Brigade’s advice is simple: If your appliance is subject to a safety or recall notice or you think there is something wrong with it, unplug the machine immediately and contact the manufacturer or a qualified repair technician.
You can find out more about LFB’s ‘Total Recalls’ campaign here.
H&F Council is already reviewing all appliances used in council buildings.
You can find more information about which appliances are affected here or call Whirlpool customer service on 03448 158989.
Tumble dryer safety tips
- Don’t leave your tumble dryer running overnight or while you are out.
- Don’t overload plug sockets. Ensure that no more than 13 amps are in any one plug socket.
- Do have working smoke alarms and test them regularly, ideally once a week.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Clean the filters after every load to ensure they do not become blocked with fluff.
- Items should be removed from the dryer immediately after the cycle and shaken loose to assist cooling.
- Don’t cover the vent or any other opening.
- Ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks and is not crushed in any way.
