WEST Midlands fire investigators are inquiring into a fatal house fire on Coriander Close, Frankley after a tumble dryer caught fire.

The fire took place in the downstairs kitchen at the rear of a two-storey semi-detached house where a woman’s body was found.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Fire Service said today: "Our fire investigators have carried out initial examinations of the tumble dryer. They have established that it is not a model on any current recall list.

"It is likely to be some weeks before the precise cause of the fire is known, and whether it was linked to a product fault. This will depend on the outcome of detailed forensic examinations."

Fire investigators will be carrying out a more detailed investigation into the cause of the fire but West Midlands Fire Services say enquiries will be focused around the tumble dryer.

The fire service were called at 4.19pm on Sunday, February 7 but the fire was out on arrival.

Neighbours and family members forced their way into the property before fire crews arrived but were unable to help the victim.

Paramedics confirmed the woman had died at the scene.

West Midlands Fire Service has issued the following tips about tumble dryer safety:

  • Remove the lint from the trap after every load of clothes dried.
  • Do not cover the vent or any other opening.
  • Ensure the vent pipe is free of kinks and is not crushed in any way.
  • Only use vent pipes that are recommended for use with tumble driers, not improvised ones.
  • Only vent the warm air to the outside of a building if required.
  • Do not put rags or materials into your tumble dryer if they have been used to soak up flammable liquids.