Must admit I am capable of worrying, a lot, about white goods starting fires. I try not to leave things on when I am out, or even when I am bed, but that tactic is hardly applicable to things like fridges, freezers and boilers. And anyway, a kitchen fire could take hold when I’m simply watching TV.
I was brought up in Glasgow in what was then called a Corporation house (‘council house’ now). There was no central heating and Dad had a routine of going to bed last and on his way upstairs, he’d turn off the gas supply at mains. When I was younger electricity also used to get switched off at the mains overnight, although he had to give up on that when we got our first fridge.
Irony is, the cupboard where the gas valve was always smelled of gas.... I suspect it was never designed for twice-daily use and after a few years, maybe the seals had weakened?