Fire in tumble dryer

The bridge was immediately informed and the vessel fire alarm triggered. All personnel were promptly mustered at the allocated muster stations and were maintained in this location until the residual smoke had cleared with the tumble dryer subsequently mechanically isolated. There were no injuries to personnel. The tumble dryer was damaged beyond repair. 

Further technical investigation was undertaken by a specialist service provider, but initial investigation concluded that the probable cause of the fire was that washcloths from galley had spontaneously combusted in the final phase of the drying cycle, during the anti-crease routine. The spontaneous combustion being due to the washcloths containing suspected residues of cooking oil and animal fat, remaining within the washcloths after washing.

IMCA notes that its members have reported tumble dryer fires over many years, and that there is no cause for complacency in the context of fire safety in a vessel laundry. Of particular note in this case is the spontaneous combustion of oily or fatty residues from cloths used for catering purposes – this has been reported before.