By Nick Griffiths

Published at 10:51, Saturday, 14 July 2012

Manufacturer Beko is to send investigators to check a faulty fridge freezer which sparked a fire and forced a mother and son to flee their home.

The firm says it has been in touch with the fire service to find out more about the incident which ruined the kitchen and living room of a house in Carlisle.

Darren Farish said he and his family were unaware this model of freezer had been highlighted as a potential safety hazard when it caused the fire at their home in Scalegate Road, Upperby.

Beko had previously issued a statement revealing the model numbers of appliances that may have a defrost timer that could fail, overheat and cause a potential fire hazard.

Mr Farish’s wife, Nicola, 29, had to grab their young son David and escape after flames broke out at about 1.45pm on Tuesday. Nobody was hurt.

In a statement following the fire, the company said: “We have been in contact with the local fire service to understand more about this incident. We will be sending an independent investigations team to the property to inspect the affected appliance and will remain in close contact with the fire service and other authorities to support their investigation.

“The fire service has confirmed the product in question is one of the affected frost-free fridge freezers that is subject to an ongoing product modification programme, which relates to a limited number of models manufactured between January 2000 and October 2006.

“Other Beko branded models and all Beko frost-free fridge freezers manufactured after October 2006 remain unaffected.”

The fire caused smoke damage. The family had to stay with relatives afterwards.

The Beko statement said the safety of all its products was the company’s highest priority and all were rigorously tested.

It added: “The frost-free fridge freezer models affected have a serial number that begins with either 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06. This information can be found on a label inside the fridge.

“Anyone who owns an affected product or who wants information can call 0800 0094837.”

Beko says it will modify affected appliances for free, adding it has already visited more than 500,000 homes and modified 185,000 units.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk