Residents are being reminded by the Berkeley Heights Fire Department that clothes dryer fires seldom occur suddenly. Lint accumulation is typically the main risk. Lint is very combustible and composed of small cloth fibers. A dryer generates heat, friction, and airflow every time it runs. In addition to the lint screen, lint can build up over time in places that are frequently hidden from view, such as the dryer cabinet, exhaust ducts, and vent pipes.

Heat cannot adequately escape when ventilation is constrained. Trapped lint may catch fire, and internal parts may overheat. A fire can swiftly spread to adjacent walls, cabinets, or stored goods once it begins, sometimes before residents become aware that something is wrong.

The agency advises homeowners not to assume that a dryer is safe just because its lint screen is clean, nor should they operate dryers while they are sleeping or away from home. Important measures to avoid dryer-related fires include routine vent inspections, removing combustibles from the area around the device, and promptly ceasing usage if overheating or strange aromas are detected.