Mum issues urgent warning to ‘check fire alarms now’ as she shows devastating results of running her dishwasher at night
A MUM has issued an urgent warning for people to check their smoke alarms, after her family nearly lost their lives in a devastating house fire.
Simone explained that she'd put her dishwasher on to run at night, and that was what caused the blaze.
The mum-of-two took to TikTok to share a video of her kitchen, which had been left blackened and burned out after the fire.
The ceilings of the kitchen were black and blistered, while the soot marks continued throughout the family home.
Over the top of the video, Simone wrote: "This is your sign not to run your dishwashers at night.
"Also check your smoke detectors. Make sure they work. Like right now, go check."
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When the dishwasher "malfunctioned" and started smoking, the alarm went off at 1.25am, and "by 1.27 am our entire house was filled with smoke".
"Had I not woken up when I did, we would not have made it out," Simone continued.
"The smoke was too thick.
"We had no time to grab anything but our kids and get out."
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She credited her smoke detectors for "saving our lives", as she admitted "the series of events that have unfolded at our home the last month and a half have been insane".
"We have endured a lifetime of trauma in a matter of weeks," she said, adding that it had been "financially devastating" too.
While she held a small family party for her daughter's fourth birthday, the house is "unlivable" after the fire.
"Our walls were white by the way," she said.
"Everything in the entire house is covered in soot.
"It's hard to breathe in here."
"My poor babies," she concluded.
"Don't run appliances at night.
The 8 fire safety checks you should do in your home every night
TO avoid a devastating fire in your home, there are some checks you should be conducting every night, according to Gov.uk.
- Close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading
- Turn off and unplug electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on – like your freezer.
- Check your cooker is turned off
- Don’t run appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers overnight
- Turn heaters off and put up fireguards
- Put candles and cigarettes out properly
- Make sure exits are kept clear
- Keep door and window keys where everyone can find them
"The washer, the dryer, the dishwasher - nothing.
"It's not worth it.
"It CAN happen. I'm thankful to be alive."
In the caption, Simone added: "We are devastated. Please pray for my family. Check your smoke detectors.
"Don’t run appliances at night. It’s not worth the risk."
"From my research, dishwashers and dryers are the most common appliances that catch fire. Huge risk," one person wrote in the comments section.
"Thanks to your video I finally replaced my smoke detector batteries, which I was procrastinating for a few days.
"So thank you," another added.
"Wait how does this happen?!" a third commented.
"I run my dishwasher every night after dinner and i didn’t even know this was possible?
"I’ve never had an issue!!"
"I’m SO sorry Simone," someone else said.
"I run my dishwasher every single night and never will again.
"Sending your family SO much love & prayers."
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Not everyone in the comments was so positive, however, with one accusing Simone of "begging for money" as she'd shared her Venmo link in her bio.
But in another video, Simone explained that while they did have house insurance, the excess is over £2,700 - which they can't afford.
