A lit cigarette dropped into a tumble dryer may have cost one smoker dearly after a full load of washing was set on fire during a spin cycle.

The twilight laundry session went horribly wrong in the early hours of Thursday, June 26, at a house in the St Helier estate, near Green Lane, Morden, from which six people were evacuated.

Crew manager Robinson, from Mitcham fire station’s red watch, said his team were called out at 3.30am and that a smoke alarm had helped wake up the residents, none of whom had reported injuries.

He said: “Luckily the smoke alarm went off and they were able to quickly call us, otherwise this could have turned out a lot worse.

“They had a full load of washing on and, from what we could see, there was no electrical fault with the tumble dryer.

“It may have been a lit cigarette that was in there, but whatever was in the drum caught alight. It caused a lot of smoke damage downstairs but they were able to re-enter the property.”

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