Charlottetown woman whose house caught on fire warns Islanders to check their dryer vents

A Charlottetown resident is urging people to regularly check their dryer vents for blockages from lint, snow and ice after a fire at her home was linked to a blocked vent.

Ellyn Young, who lives in the Sherwood neighbourhood, said the fire broke out last month. Noticing a burning smell one morning, she checked inside the house but found nothing unusual. Then she looked outside and saw thick smoke.

"And I turned my head towards the backyard, and there was like six-foot flames shooting out the side of my house, and they were like an intense orange," Young told CBC News.

Her son called 911 while grabbing fire extinguishers to try to control the flames.

Island Morning7:25It may be time to check that dryer vent

A Charlottetown couple is warning others to inspect their dryer vents after a house fire in January was caused by a vent blocked by ice and snow. CBC's Josefa Cameron speaks with Ellyn Young about her experience.

After firefighters arrived and put out the fire, Young said the inspector told her the blaze had originated from her dryer and had probably been smouldering in the wall all night after she ran a couple of loads of laundry the previous day.

The dryer's exterior vent was blocked by snow and ice, which could have trapped hot air inside the wall — so hot that the insulation caught fire.

"It wasn't even on my radar because I thought I was taking preventative steps," Young said.

Precautions needed

Dave Rossiter, P.E.I.'s fire marshal, said dryer fires are uncommon on the Island but they do happen. The most important preventative step is ensuring the dryer is installed properly by a licensed professional, he said.

"Also make sure that your ventilation is relatively short — in other words, not a long line to ventilate the dryer. Make sure that it goes through the wall, preferably directly outside," he said.

Rossiter said it's crucial to avoid using white plastic ducting for dryer ventilation, since it can be highly combustible. He recommends rigid or flexible metal ducting instead.

After poor installation, he said one of the most common causes of dryer fires is lint buildup. Many people forget to clean their lint traps regularly, allowing highly flammable material to be sucked through and accumulate in the exhaust system.

Rossiter also advised people to make sure nothing outside the house is blocking the vent.

'I've always been diligent'

Young said she has always been careful about maintaining her dryer.

She cleans the lint trap every time she does laundry and takes it out for a thorough cleaning every month. She even uses her vacuum to remove lint from hard-to-reach areas. And twice a year, she pulls the dryer away from the wall and cleans the vent pipe leading outside.

"I've always been diligent," she said.

Since the fire, the Sherwood resident has been warning others about the importance of dryer maintenance.

One of her neighbours reached out to thank her and showed her a photo of a grocery bag full of lint he had cleaned out of his vent, Young said.

The afternoon of the fire, her insurance company sent people to assess the damage and hired contractors to handle the repairs to her laundry room and part of her deck. Most of the work is covered by insurance.

Insurance industry advice

Eddy Zhakata, manager of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said house fires originating from dryers are covered under standard home insurance policies.

However, he said coverage for the appliance itself might be denied if the damage is due to poor maintenance, such as neglecting to clean the lint trap.

"As soon as it is safe to do so [after a fire], please get in touch with your insurance provider," he said.

"Keep a list of everything that was damaged in that fire… If you have receipts, do provide them to your insurance provider and talk to your insurance adjuster and find out what coverages you have for additional living expenses in the event that you are displaced."

There was just so many little things that fell into place... with God's hand at work, saving us, preventing us from a much worse ending.— Ellyn Young

Despite the extensive damage to her house, Young said she is grateful no one was hurt.

The fire was discovered and addressed quickly, she said, and firefighters were able to contain it using powder instead of large amounts of water, limiting damage inside the home.

"There was just so many little things that fell into place... with God's hand at work, saving us, preventing us from a much worse ending."