A Kansas mother is issuing a warning after her dishwasher caught fire while her family was sleeping.

At night, the dishwasher is usually run by a mother in Topeka, Kansas.

A Kansas mother is issuing a warning after her dishwasher caught fire while her family was sleeping.
A Kansas mother is issuing a warning after her dishwasher caught fire while her family was sleeping.

Another homeowner is sharing her experience of a kitchen fire caused by a dishwasher while she and her family were asleep, in hopes of warning others.

On Aug. 7, at midnight, a fire happened to Simone Anderson, a stay-at-home mom from Topeka, Kansas.

Simone Anderson, as told to Planet Chronicle Digital in a telephone interview, said that her husband has to leave early for work in the morning, so he said, "Hey, don’t forget to start the dishwasher before you go to bed," and then she stays up longer, making that their every night routine.

She went to bed around midnight after running the dishwasher, but was awakened at 1:20 a.m. by the sound of smoke detectors alarming.

Anderson family of Kansas photo
Simone Anderson (pictured top right) said she and her husband Paul Anderson, and their daughters, 4-year-old Nola and 1-year-old Ansel, were able to escape their home safely after the dishwasher caught fire. (Simone Anderson)

"I woke my husband and asked him to check what was going on since the kids were still sleeping."

Simone Anderson stated that her husband discovered the dishwasher fully engulfed in flames in the kitchen.

Burnt dishwasher
Simone Anderson said she typically runs the dishwasher every night before bed.  (Simone Anderson)

Instead of trying to put out the fire, Paul Anderson quickly evacuated his family from the house as the flames intensified rapidly.

"With nothing but the clothes on our backs, we left the house," Simone Anderson stated.

Two or three minutes later, the entire house was filled with smoke after we got up and left.

Destroyed home kitchen fire in Kansas
The family's kitchen has to be completely gut renovated, and the family will have to live elsewhere for at least six months. (Simone Anderson)

Soot covered everything throughout the house after the fire was put out, Simone Anderson said, although firefighters were able to contain the blaze inside the kitchen.

Experts advise against running your dishwasher at night due to low peak hours, despite some dishwashing companies and product manufacturers suggesting it.

Experts advise against running dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines at night or when no one is home.

If your appliance catches fire at night, it may have more time to spread before you notice. This could be deadly if you don't have working smoke alarms.

Angi Orbann, Travelers Insurance's vice president of property PI product management, advised against running a dishwasher while unattended.

Using these devices overnight or when not at home can increase the risk of a malfunction or fire going unnoticed, according to her email to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Family and kitchen that caught fire in Kansas
A mom is warning of potential safety issues that could arise from dishwashers after her kitchen was destroyed. (Simone Anderson)

To ensure maximum safety in the kitchen, it is recommended to plug appliances directly into wall outlets instead of using extension cords or power strips, which can easily overheat and cause fires.

Home wiring or lighting equipment is involved in half of all U.S. home electrical fires, which affect approximately 47,000 homes annually, according to the Fire Administration.

A fire investigator concluded that the likely cause of the fire in Simone Anderson's 10-year-old dishwasher was frayed wiring.

She recommended that families routinely inspect smoke detectors and avoid operating appliances during the night.

The Andersons have temporarily moved into an Airbnb while their house undergoes a six-month renovation.

The family has a GoFundMe page and is requesting donations.

by Brittany Kasko

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