A REWORKED Samsung washing machine, given the tick of approval by a technician three years ago and just weeks from being replaced, is being blamed for a fire which has nearly levelled an Anna Bay house.
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Alan Duckett had put on a load of washing in his top-loading machine about 5am on Thursday before making himself a milkshake.
Within 10 minutes, the Anna Bay man was using a garden hose to try and extinguish flames which were “flying out of the laundry” and threatening to take hold of the rest of his house as fire crews rushed to the scene.
The fire has severely damaged his laundry.
“I was inside and just finished the milkshake and all the lights went out,’’ Mr Duckett said.
“I walked outside and saw the flames flying out of the laundry.
“There was not even any time to call the fire brigade at first; I just grabbed a hose and started trying to extinguish it otherwise it would have been too late.’’
The fire comes after Samsung Electronics began a recall in 2013 of six models of its top end loader following a series of blazes.
In a statement released on April 22, Samsung said about 75% of the 144,451 models sold across Australia had either been reworked, replaced or its owners refunded.
Of the machines which had been checked, only two “external damage” fires had been reported before the Anna Bay blaze on Thursday.
Mr Duckett said his machine was checked and given the all clear by a technician in 2013.
He said he received a phone call from Samsung about a fortnight ago offering to replace the machine.
He was told his new machine would arrive in about three weeks.
Mr Duckett said a Samsung representative had contacted him after learning of the fire on social media.
“I can’t complain about Samsung, I can’t fault them,’’ Mr Duckett said.
“They have been 100 per cent about this. They know we don’t have hot water and have offered to put us up in other accomodation.’’
A Samsung spokeswoman said the company contacted Mr Duckett immediately upon learning of the incident.
She also confirmed that the representative had asked to collect the machine.
”As the manufacturer of the washing machine, Samsung has a responsibility to investigate whether a fault in the machine caused the fire at Mr Duckett’s residence,’’ the spokeswoman said.
“Samsung takes this responsibility very seriously.
“Mr Duckett indicated he did not wish to release the unit to Samsung at this time and accordingly we respected his wishes.
“This afternoon Fire & Rescue NSW indicated to Samsung that it will investigate the unit in the coming days.
“Samsung co-operates with authorities and regulators at all times and as the manufacturer of the product, will conduct its own investigation when agreed by relevant parties.’’
