Sounds like something consumer affairs should see also. Boy, that's scarey. I'm glad your car wasn't out there too. WOW!
You weren't washing kex rags with gasoline on them were you? I've heard that will do it... anything with gas on it can make that happen.
I read somewhere that the spier on the drum could have failed and caused this. (What ever that is). I would certainly want a thorough explanation from the manufacturer....