At 9.22am on Thursday, October 9th, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Neath, Morriston and Port Talbot Fire Stations were called to an incident at Allister Street in Neath.
Crews responded to a fire in the basement of a four-storey, mid-terrace domestic property. Crews utilised two breathing apparatus sets and one hose reel jet to extinguish the fire. Thermal imaging cameras and one positive pressure ventilation fan were used to monitor the scene and ventilate the property after the fire was extinguished.
The fire was caused accidentally by an overheated dehumidifier. The dehumidifier was too small for the room it was placed in and became overworked.
Crews left the scene at 10.23am.
Electrical Fire Safety
With the colder winter months approaching, many people will be using dehumidifiers to avoid damp around the home and to help dry clothes.
Dehumidifiers, like any electrical appliance, can pose a fire risk if they are not used properly. This incident highlights the dangers of using a dehumidifier that is too small for the size of room it was placed in and therefore, it became overheated.
The incident has also highlighted the importance of keeping doors closed within a property. The door to the basement was closed so the fire was contained to the room of origin and prevented extensive smoke damage to the rest of the property.
More information on electrical fire safety is available here.
