Basingstoke Family Displaced by Tumble Dryer Fire

A Basingstoke family, whose residence sustained significant damage from a tumble dryer fire, expressed that they would be “very lucky” to secure new housing before Christmas. Jason Ebury stated that the blaze commenced on 23 November, shortly after a load of laundry was placed in the appliance. The family safely evacuated their home on Cleveland Close, Buckskin, without injury, but are currently residing in a local hotel. Sovereign Housing Association confirmed its ongoing support for the family during the assessment and repair of the property. Mr. Ebury recounted being at his workplace when his wife and children, preparing for an outing, started a load of laundry in the dryer. He quoted, “They could smell smoke, then the smoke alarms had gone off, and very quickly flames were coming out from under the stairs.” According to Mr. Ebury, a frantic effort was made to save one of their four dogs, which had become distressed and fled upstairs within the residence. Firefighters successfully recovered the animal. Mr. Ebury reported that two fire engines attended the scene, and it took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. The entire home suffered damage from fire, smoke, and water. He mentioned that the family managed to retrieve crucial belongings, such as passports and some articles of clothing, but conceded, “we haven’t got any of the photos out.” Neighbors and friends have provided assistance to the family, including help with laundry. Mr. Ebury commented, “We’re just doing as best we can.” Sovereign Housing Association stated its search for alternative housing for the family while evaluating the property’s damage. The association declared, “We’ve provided accommodation in local hotel as a temporary measure, as well as funding meals while they don’t have access to a kitchen. We will continue to talk with them as we work as quickly as we can to provide suitable interim accommodation until the family can move home.” Paul Scott, a prevention manager with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, noted that tumble dryer incidents are uncommon. He recommended that individuals avoid overloading plug sockets, ensure their dryers are properly ventilated and clean, and not leave appliances unsupervised during operation. He also urged people to register their appliances online to receive manufacturer alerts regarding potential faults. For updates, follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.