Homeowners are being told to never leave their tumble dryers running overnight after a family's near-miss when their appliance burst into flames.
Devastating photos show the damage caused after the machine set alight at the home in Murrumbateman, Australia, on Sunday.
The family were asleep when the terrifying ordeal happened.
They were woken by the smoke alarm and quickly hauled the appliance outside.
They then swiftly used a garden hose to extinguish the flames.
Luckily no one was hurt.
Simon McGrath, from the Murrumbateman Rural Service, told the Canberra Times that leaving a clothes dryer unattended was “a common occurrence in Australia in winter”.
While a spokesman for the NSW Rural Fire Service urged homeowners to remain vigilant.
“A terrifying event for a local family,” the fire brigade wrote on its Facebook page.
“Please check lint filters. And never leave your dryer on overnight.”
Montrose Country Fire Authority also shared the photos as a warning and said: "Below are some images of a terrifying event for a NSW family whose clothes dryer caught fire in the middle of the night over the weekend.
"Luckily the residents were alerted by a working smoke alarm and managed to move the unit outside.
"It is a very timely reminder to check and empty your lint filters before every drying cycle and never leave your dryer on when asleep or when leaving the house!"
A spokesman reiterated the importance of not leaving a dryer unattended and cleaning out the lint filter.
