Councils have warned that all white goods should have fire-proof markings on them in the wake of the Whirlpool tumble dryers scandal.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has welcomed the fact Whirlpool has confirmed that people should not use the dangerous appliances. However, they said it should have been issued much sooner as people's lives and homes have been put at risk.
The LGA has been demanding the recall of the faulty tumble dryers since last year.
The LGA also said that all white goods should have the manufacturer, model and serial number on them so they can be identified if they are damaged after causing a fire.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA’’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: ‘For needless months, consumers have been playing ‘Russian roulette’ with at-risk tumble dryers prone to bursting into flames and destroying homes, and with firefighters attending three fires a day caused by the appliances.
‘Tumble dryers are the second biggest cause of faulty appliance house fires. It is a shame that it has taken enforcement notices from Trading Standards, pressure from a consumer group and lobbying from the LGA to change the advice which now advises owners of potentially dangerous machines to unplug and stop using them until they are repaired.’
