Government inaction is putting people at risk from faulty white goods, warns fire brigade

The London Fire Brigade warns Theresa May to improve safety standards as thousands of faulty white goods are still in use

A faulty fridge was believed to have caused the Grenfell Tower fire (Getty)

UK homes face a severe risk of being devastated by fires caused by white goods, and the Government desperately needs to ramp up safety standards, the London Fire Brigade has urged.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister published on Monday and backed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the fire brigade said that white goods with a flammable plastic backing are still being produced, heightening the risk of insulation foam catching alight.

The letter coincides with the anniversary of a fire caused by a faulty tumble dryer that ripped through a tower bloc in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, last year. The LFB said that it is “deeply concerned” and that “decisive action is still needed to improve product recalls and manufacturing standards for white goods in the UK”.

The letter cites flammable packaging as the cause for the death of 36-year old Santosh Benjamin Muthiah, after he suffered from smoke inhalation saving his wife and two young children from a fire in 2010, as well as June’s devastating fire in Grenfell Tower which took the lives of at least 80 people.

“There has been over three years of reports and recommendations but as yet no action from Government”, the LFB said.

Despite the Government suggesting it has been looking into faulty product and fire safety issues for over three years, the London Fire Brigade is adamant the product recall system in place is unfit as it stands.

“The process of review [of product recall] has been ongoing for almost three years and as yet there has been no substantial changes made to improve this system. What is needed now is action.”

The letter, signed by LFB commissioner Dany Cotton, as well as other senior members of fire safety groups and unions, states that all appliances such as fridges and tumble dryers should be marked with an identifiable serial number.

It underscores the difficulties of checking whether domestic appliances are being recalled, and suggests the Government should set up a website where consumers are able to match their products with recall notices.

“The Government’s delay in implementing these recommendations is simply inexcusable", said Sadiq Khan.

"With on average one white goods fire every single day in London, if an item is on the official ‘recall’ list, this information must be easily accessible so these fires can be prevented."