Dehumidifier blamed for basement blaze at Neath home

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Neath, Morriston and Port Talbot were called to Allister Street at 9.22am on October 9.

The fire broke out in the basement of a four‑storey mid‑terrace house. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet to bring the flames under control. Thermal imaging cameras and a positive pressure ventilation fan were then deployed to check for hotspots and clear smoke from the property.

The blaze was confirmed to have been caused accidentally by a dehumidifier that was too small for the size of the room it was placed in, leading it to become overworked and overheated.

Crews left the scene just over an hour later, at 10.23am.

Safety reminder

With colder months approaching, the fire service has urged householders to take care when using dehumidifiers and other electrical appliances.

A spokesperson said the incident highlighted the risks of using a device that is not suitable for the space it is intended to cover. They also stressed the importance of keeping doors closed inside properties, noting that in this case the closed basement door prevented the fire spreading and limited smoke damage to the rest of the home.

Aftermath

Photographs released after the incident show the charred remains of the dehumidifier and extensive fire damage to the basement room, which was left blackened by smoke and flames.

Author

Kit Peters

Kit Peters is a journalist and the editor of Swansea Bay News, covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire since 2020.