A senior coroner in West Yorkshire has raised serious safety concerns regarding 1.6 million Hoover tumble dryers following a fatal house fire that claimed the lives of a father and his daughter. The blaze, which occurred in June 2025, is believed to have been caused by a fault in one of the machines.

Sohaib Ahmed, 38, and his nine-year-old daughter, Manahal Ahmed, were found unresponsive at their home in Heckmondwike after smoke was reported by a neighbour shortly before 6:10 a.m. on June 8. Emergency responders arrived within minutes but were unable to save the pair, who died of inhalation of fire gases. A third child at the residence suffered significant injuries but survived.

Senior coroner Martin Fleming, presiding over the inquest, identified the likely origin of the fire as a DX C10DCER-80 Hoover condenser tumble dryer located in the kitchen. However, the precise cause and ignition process within the machine remain undetermined. Fleming called for an urgent safety review of the device, emphasizing the potential risks posed by similar models still in use.

In response, a spokesperson for Haier Group, owner of Hoover and Candy brands, expressed condolences to the family but maintained that the model in question does not present an elevated safety risk. The company noted that the specific tumble dryer model is no longer manufactured and stated that they do not consider it reasonable to halt sales. Haier added that, after reviewing their incident data, no other confirmed safety incidents involving this model have been identified.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) supported the coroner’s concerns, underscoring the importance of conducting a thorough root cause analysis into the particular model linked to two fatal fires, including the Ahmed family incident. The OPSS confirmed it had formally requested Haier in December 2025 to determine the underlying causes of these safety issues.

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of the safety of this category of appliances, with the coroner highlighting the widespread ownership of these models and the potential risks they pose to consumers. Authorities continue to monitor the investigation as questions remain over the safety standards and the adequacy of manufacturer responses.