The US Fire Administration says 2,900 residential clothes dryer fires are reported each year and cause an estimated 5 deaths, 100 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. Officials say failure to clean the dryer is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. Also, more home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months, peaking in January. Officials say to prevent fires, clean lint filters every time you use the dryer and clean the dryer duct system every year.