File photo. Photo: supplied
Owners of decade-old Samsung washing machines are being urged to check the model number, after a top loader caught fire at an Auckland home.
Samsung recalled four top loader washing machines ten years ago because of a fault.
Fire and Emergency's Community Risk Manager for Counties Manukau Thomas Harre said an Auckland family of five were alerted to the washing machine fire when their smoke alarm went off.
"This family was very lucky to have been ambient and awake with working smoke alarms meaning they all evacuated to safety with minimal property damage, however the outcome could indeed have been very different."
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment national manager for consumer services Simon Gallagher said the model had been recalled in 2013.
He said within four years more than 96 percent recalled machines were repaired, replaced or refunded.
"While this remedy rate is considered high for electronics recalls, I'd encourage anyone who has a Samsung top loader washing machine model built between 2010 and 2013 to check their model number to confirm it isn't one of the models affected. If it is, they should get in touch with Samsung."
Gallagher said people can refer to the Product Safety New Zealand website for detail about the recalls and if they find their washing machine is among the recalls, they should then contact Samsung to repair, replace or refund it.
The affected model numbers are; SW75V9WIP, SW65V9WIP, SW80SPWIP and SW70SPWIP.