A teenage girl suffered smoke inhalation after the first of two fires in Exeter today involving washing machines.
Emergency services were called to a house on Barton Road, St Thomas at around 9.45am following reports of smoke in the kitchen.
Two fire crews found on arrival that the blaze fire involved a washing machine in a ground floor kitchen. They worked to extinguish the fire using two breathing apparatus wearers, a hose reel jet and a dry powder extinguisher.
An ambulance was requested to attend, because the teenager was said to be suffering from smoke inhalation.
A fire service spokesman said: "The fire was successfully extinguished, but the kitchen did obtain slight smoke and fire damage."
Crews were then called to Poltimore Court on Moor Lane following reports of a small fire.
Three fire engines attended the incident at around 12.15pm.
Upon arrival the crews found another washing machine had been on fire, but was out prior to their arrival.
A fire service spokesman added: "The crews carried out an inspection only to make sure the area was safe. The cause of the fire was accidental."
Both properties did not have a working smoke alarm.
Lee Blackburn, watch manager of Danes Castle in Exeter, warned people to make sure they have an operational smoke detector at home.
He said: "We've been sent to two kitchen fires involving washing machines today, which is a coincidence in itself. And neither property had a working smoke alarm.
"We would strongly, strongly urge people to make sure they have a smoke alarm that works and to test it regularly.
"In these cases the damage was minor, because the owners could smell smoke. But next time it could be a whole lot worse. Some people go out and leave their washing machines switched on. These fires could have been a different story if they had happened at night."
