FIREFIGHTERS are urging residents to take care when using electrical devices and appliances after five house fires over the weekend.

On Saturday a tumble drier burst into flames in Radcliffe after it had been left switched on unsupervised.

Fire crews from Bury and Farnworth rushed to scene and spent an hour battling the blaze and ventilating the home.

One resident had to be treated by the North West Ambulance Service from smoke inhalation.

Over the next two days crews from across Greater Manchester attended similar fires in Urmston, Leigh, Droylsden, and Wigan.

Damian O’Rourke, Head of Prevention at GMFRS said: “Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured in these incidents but it is a timely reminder of how dangerous electrical appliances can be when left unattended.

“There are many different precautions people can take to minimise the risk of an electrical appliance fire and they need to be monitored regularly.

“Just because there is no flame, does not mean there is no risk of fire.”

To minimise the risk of a fire you should:

• Switch off appliances at the socket when not in use and when you go out or go to bed, unless they are designed to be left on, like freezers.

• Be aware of what you are charging, where it is and how long it has been on charge

• Check you are not overloading plug sockets

• Do not use chargers or electrical items in areas of the home where they can easily heat up, for example under pillows, under bedding or sofas and cushions.