Recent Dryer Fire Stories Summarized

You only have to watch the news to truly understand the importance of dryer safety. The recent article summaries below are gathered from across the nation as information updates on the urgency of this problem.

Dryer Caused Apartment Fire - By Candice Williams, The Detroit News (9/6/2010) CHESTERFIELD, MI — An overheated clothes dryer was the cause of a fire Sunday night fire at a Chesterfield Township apartment complex, police said Monday.  There were no injuries in the blaze that destroyed half of the 24-unit apartment building near 23 Mile, east of I-94.  "The building is not habitable," said Detective James Gates of the Chesterfield Township Police Department. "There's no water, electricity."

Dryer Blamed for North Side Fire - By Dan Latini, Evansville Courier & Press (9/4/2010) EVANSVILLE, IN — An unattended clothes dryer is being blamed for starting a fire on Evansville’s North Side.  McCutchanville Fire Department District Chief Jeff Prittchett said the fire caused significant damage to an adjacent bathroom.  No injuries were reported.  German and McCutchanville Township Fire Departments responded to the fire.

Dryer Fire Destroys Home - By Samatha Smith, KSTP ABC Channel 5 Eyewitness News (9/1/2010) ST. PAUL, MN — A fire destroyed a home on 245th Avenue NE in Linwood Township.  We're told the fire started in a dryer, but spread to the rest of the house.  Everyone made it out of the home safely.  The damage is estimated at $400,000.

Clothes Dryer Lint Causes $60,000 House Fire - By Danny Valentine, St. Petersburg Times (9/1/2010) TAMPA, FL — Lint from a clothes dryer caught fire, igniting a blaze that caused $60,000 in damage.  Jamie Godwin, 52, woke up early Wednesday to do some laundry, said Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Bill Wade.  She put clothes in the dryer and left for about 10 minutes.  When she returned, the dryer was on fire.  Investigators determined the fire was caused by a lint build-up in the dryer duct, Wade said.

Dryer Fire Leaves $15,000 in Damage - Stuart Clark and Gregory R. Norfleet, West Branch Times (9/1/2010) TIPTON, IA — Fire caused an estimated $15,000 in damage to a Rochester home.  Tipton Fire Chief Curt Woode said the fire started in the lint trap of a dryer.  Departments from Tipton, Atalissa, West Branch and West Liberty were called to the scene. The fire burned for an undetermined period of time before firefighters arrived, resulting in a heavily damaged floor truss and smoke throughout the structure.  Chief Woode said there would likely be a costly cleanup of the damage.  Firefighters were on the scene for about 1 1/2 hours.

Dryer Fire Quelled - By Bruno Matarazzo Jr., Salem News (8/23/2010) SALEM, MA — Firefighters responded to a telephone call of a dryer fire.  Salem fire Deputy Chief Brian Harrington said firefighters first at the scene found smoke showing from the rear entrance, as well as the eaves and roof of the 2 1/2-story, single-family home.  Firefighters put out the fire before it extended to the above floors.  Harrington said the fire appears to have started in the dryer.  The fire spread to nearby items in the basement.  The fire caused $5,000 in damages.

21 Cats, Dog Killed in House Fire - By Kevin Connor, Toronto Sun (8/18/2010) TORONTO, CANADA — Only four cats survived a house fire that killed a dog and 21 other felines.  The blaze gutted the house. A father and son got out of the house safely and the fire alarms were in working order.  The fire started in a dryer.  The fire happened quickly, said Michael Freedman, who lives next door.  "There was a tremendous amount of smoke, but the people got out okay, but they lost a lot of animals.  This family is very devoted to helping animals,” he said.  The family works with animal rescue groups, said Dr. Attila Koroknai, a vet at the Bathurst Dupont Animal Hospital.  Damage from the fire is estimated at $400,000.

Family Escapes Dryer Fire - KOCO Oklahoma City News Channel 5 (8/11/2010) OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A family escaped a dryer fire early Wednesday morning.  Firefighters said the fire was caused by a lint back-up in the dryer.  Crews said the homeowner tried to put the fire out himself, but it got out of control.  There were two adults and four young children inside the house, but everyone made it out safely.  There is about $15,000 damage to the kitchen area.

Dryer Causes Apartment to Catch Fire - By Julie Tork - KHAS TV NBC Channel 5 News (8/10/2010) GRAND ISLAND, NE — A pregnant woman is in the hospital and a Grand Island family is without a home Tuesday night after a household dryer burst into flames.  Two children and their grandmother were home when the fire started.  They safely left the building.  Their pregnant mother came home and ran inside the building thinking the children were still inside.  Firefighters said she now suffers from slight smoke inhalation.  "The fire was contained to the laundry room area of the apartment.  It did extend a little bit into the walls," said Tim Hiemer, Grand Island Fire Department.  The apartment manager said just moments before the fire started members of the family called saying the dryer was smoking.

Clothes Dryer Catches Fire - Maple Valley Reporter (8/5/2010) MAPLE VALLEY, WA — Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety firefighters were dispatched to a home fire at 4:42 p.m.  Firefighters found the home owner outside and he stated that there was a fire inside the clothes dryer.  He had used a portable fire extinguisher to try to extinguish the fire before exiting.  Firefighters made entry and found large amounts of smoke on the second floor and a small fire still burning inside the dryer.  Firefighters extinguished the fire using a water fire extinguisher and ventilated the smoke from the house.

Crews Race to Stop House Fire - WBNG - Channel 12 Action News (7/25/2010) ENDICOTT, NY — A family is safe after fire crews responded quickly to a house fire.  Crews from West Endicott, Town of Union and West Corners all responded.  Within 5 minutes fire fighters were on the scene.  They say the fire started in a dryer and the house suffered minor smoke damage.  "They were very lucky. They were home, they knew to call 9-1-1.  We had a good response.  Firefighters say the dryer was in the garage and the fire spread through the wall into the second floor of the house.

Clothes Dryer Blamed for Fire - Des Moines Register (7/14/2010) DES MOINES, IA — Fire department officials say a small fire at the Temple for Performing Arts on Tuesday morning was caused by a clothes dryer.  Fire crews responded to the building around 7 a.m.  The dryer likely ignited because of heavy accumulation of lint, officials said.  There was some damage to the wall behind the dryer, and the floor was scorched.

Woman Hurt by Dryer Fire - By Ashley Studley - Milford Daily News (7/14/2010) MEDWAY, MA — An elderly woman was taken to the hospital yesterday for burns she suffered after the dryer in her home caught on fire, officials said.  She was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after she burned her arms, right knee and the hair by her forehead, said Assistant Chief Jim Smith.  Chief Paul Trufant said the fire was contained to the basement, and as firefighters were ventilating the two-story home, an animal control officer retrieved Lepak's dog.

Firefighters Save House and Cat from Dryer Fire - By Lisa Zahner - Vero News (7/13/2010) VERO BEACH, FL — A dryer fire that could have quickly engulfed a house Tuesday night was put out by Indian River County Firefighters.  Firefighters from Stations 1, 3 and 4 responded with a three engines, a ladder truck and an ambulance.  Lt. Brian Nolan, spokesman for the Indian River County Fire Department, said the call came in at 8:30 p.m. and that firefighters entered the home and extinguished the flames.  They found one cat and secured it in a room while they cleared out the smoke, which had already spread throughout the house.  Nolan said these fires happen periodically when people do not thouroughly clean out the lint trap every time the dryer is used.

Dryer Fire Damages Home - By Robby Douglas - Citrus Daily (7/10/2010) BEVERLY HILLS, FL — A fire in a dryer on Friday is costing a Beverly Hills homeowner $3,000.  Responding firefighters at 8:50 p.m. found smoke showing from the structure.  The crew initiated an interior attack into the residence and found the dryer on fire in the laundry room.  The fire was extinguished shortly after the crews entered the structure. Quick work by firefighters is credited with keeping the fire from spreading.  Citrus County Fire Rescue urges everyone to make sure that the lint filter and vent are clear of any lint prior to operating a clothes dryer to prevent the dryer from overheating.

Dryer Fire Causes Damage - By Emily Clark - Channel 4 ABC News Salt Lake City (6/25/2010) WEST JORDAN, UT — A West Jordan mother and daughter came home from a morning walk to find smoke filling their home. The culprit, the dryer.  The flames destroyed the washing machine, dryer, surrounding walls and the clothes inside the machines.  The homeowner simply left the house with the dryer running and came home to a complete mess.  It's something we all do, but can prevent simply by checking your dryer equipment.  West Jordan Fire Batallion Chief Reed Scharman said, "we should not be using plastic hoses, it needs to be metal and cleaned out every once in a while."  Besides the physical damage, smoke filled the entire home leaving behind a mess and terrible smell.

Dryer Fire Damages Trailer - Savannah Morning News (6/25/2010) CHATHAM, GA — A family was left homeless Thursday afternoon after their West Chatham trailer was damaged in a fire, according to Southside Fire/EMS officials.  Southside Fire crews were called to a trailer park after several people reported smoke pouring from the single-wide mobile structure.  Firefighters quickly installed water lines from pumper trucks and confined the blaze to a kitchen and bedroom, said Southside Fire Battalion Chief Buster Sherrod.  A dryer caused the blaze.

Elderly Lady Suffers Smoke Inhalation After Dryer Fire - By Mike Wilkinson - Wiltshire Times (6/21/2010) WESTBURY, UK — A tumble dryer caught fire in Westbury on Sunday morning causing an elderly lady to require treatment by paramedics.  Two fire crews from Westbury and Trowbridge were called out to the property at Field Close at 11.43am.  A paramedic administered oxygen to the woman who had suffered from smoke inhalation.

Dryer Fire Damages Home - By Jason Bain - The Lindsay Post (6/19/2010) LINDSAY, ONTARIO, CANADA — A mother and three children were staying with neighbours after a dryer ignited Monday, causing a $1,500 fire.  Firefighters called shortly before 6 p.m. arrived to find smoke coming out of the basement of the single-story brick home.  Crews put out the fire and removed the appliance and its contents before ventilating the building. Damage was estimated at about $1,000 to the dryer and clothes.  Firefighters were called from Lindsay, Ops and Emily, officials said.

Fire Caused by Dryer - By Leslie Berestein - San Diego Union Tribune (6/11/2010) LA MESA, CA — A fire caused between $10,000 and $15,000 to a home La Mesa Friday afternoon.  According to a Heartland Fire dispatcher, the blaze was reported at 4:17 p.m.  Nineteen firefighters responded, and the fire was under control in six minutes.  The cause was a dryer, a dispatcher said.

Crews Put Out Dryer Fire - KSBY NBC Channel 6 News (6/9/2010) PASO ROBLES, CA — Emergency fire sprinklers help local firefighters contain a small blaze at an apartment complex in Paso Robles.  It happened at 6:45p.m. Wednesday.  Fire crews say a clothes dryer caught fire in the building's laundry room.  Fire sprinklers helped to keep flames from spreading.  Damage was contained to the dryer and some walls of the building.

Clothes Dryer Cause of Fire - By Elizabeth Richardson - Newnan Times Herald (5/29/2010) NEWNAN, GA — Coweta County Fire Department investigators have determined a clothes dryer was the cause of a fire Tuesday morning at a home on East Gordon Road.  Coweta County firefighters responded and found smoke coming from a 1,200-square-foot residence, according to Assistant Fire Chief Todd Moore.  Units from county fire stations 1, 3 and 4 responded to the scene and located the fire in the laundry room.  The fire was contained to that room.

Teen Rescues Cat, Firefighters Revive Two Others - By John Branton - The Columbian (5/29/2010) VANCOUVER, OR — Two pet cats that were trapped in a burning home east of Hazel Dell on Friday afternoon were in bad shape when firefighters carried them outside.  But members of the Vancouver Fire Department and Fire District 6 used pet resuscitation masks, giving the felines extra oxygen and helping them breathe.  The first crew arrived in eight minutes to find the home’s interior in flames that were spreading rapidly throughout the home and producing heavy smoke.  A 16-year-old boy had grabbed one family cat as he exited his home but had to leave two cats behind.  In the end, the inside of the home was extensively damaged, but the outside appeared mostly intact.  Damage was estimated at $350,000.  A deputy fire marshal said dryer lint buildup caused the blaze.

Buildup of Dryer Lint Blamed for Fire - By David C. Shampine - Watertown Daily Times (5/28/2010) RUTLAND, NY — The buildup of lint in a clothes dryer vent was listed as the cause of a fire Tuesday evening that destroyed a double-wide manufactured house in the town of Rutland.  Joseph D. Plummer, Jefferson County director of fire and emergency management, said the appliance had been used earlier in the day, causing lint to overheat and smolder beneath the dwelling. The single-story structure became engulfed, and flames spread to a nearby garage.

Dryer Fire Damages Home - By Robbie Douglas - Citrus Daily (5/26/2010) CHASSAHOWITZKA, FL — A fire that apparently started in a home's laundry room on Tuesday morning damaged a Chassahowitzka home.  The first to arrive nine minutes later were firefighters from the Homosassa Fire Station.  Arriving firefighters found smoke and fire coming from the washer and dryer area on fire, the fire report said.  The fire was extinguished within two minutes of arrival of the first Engine crew.  Crews then ventilated the home to remove the smoke that filled half the house.  Damage to the home was estimated at $5,000, and there were no injuries.  The fire started in the dryer.

Fire Department Responds to Call - The Jamestown Sun (5/17/2010) JAMESTOWN, ND — The Jamestown Fire Department responded to a call at a residence around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The dryer fire was reported at 10th St. S.E.  The occupants of the home had safely evacuated, according to initial reports.

Dryer Fire Causes $10,000 in Damage - By George Graham - The Republican (4/28/2010) SPRINGFIELD, MA — A clothes dryer fire caused some $10,000 in damage to a McKnight neighborhood apartment Wednesday morning.  A woman, who may have suffered from smoke inhalation, was treated at the scene and declined to be taken to a hospital, Fire Department spokesman Dennis G. Leger said.  Leger said most of the damage came from smoke. The whole apartment needs to be painted, it’s really black, he said.  Leger said the fire broke out in a high-efficiency dryer that was in the kitchen.

Dryer Fire Closes West Street - By James F. Lowe - Daily Hampshire Gazette (4/28/2010) NORTHAMPTON, MA — A fire in a clothes dryer led authorities to close a section of West Street this morning.  Fire Chief Brian Duggan said firefighters quickly stopped the blaze, which had started in one of several dryer's in basement of the business and spread to the second floor through air ducts.  There was a significant buildup of lint that may have contributed to the fire, Duggan said.

Dryer Causes Fire at School - Kingsport Times News (4/26/2010) ST. CLAIR, TN — A fire in a utility room at St. Clair Elementary School Monday evening destroyed a washer and dryer but won’t interrupt classes today.  Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Monday, four Hawkins County fire departments were dispatched to a fire alarm at the small rural school.  Hawkins County Emergency Management Agency Director Gary Murrell said the fire was in a room next to the kitchen and was started by a dryer that was in use.  Murrell said a new fire alarm system, which calls directly to Central Dispatch when smoke is detected, saved valuable response time and probably saved the building from serious fire damage.

Home a Total Loss After Fire - KAIT ABC Channel 8 News (4/26/2010) POPLAR BLUFF, MO — A Region 8 family is homeless after fire guts their mobile home late Sunday night.  David Green's home in Poplar Bluff was destroyed Sunday night after his dryer caught fire.  Green said he just returned from church when he smelled smoke.  Green managed to get his pregnant fiancé and 6-year-old step daughter out of the home safely.  The home is a total loss.

Home Damaged by Dryer Fire - By John Crawford - CFTK TV (4/22/2010) TERRACE, BC CANADA — A dryer fire caused extensive smoke damage to a home on Agar Avenue, on Terrace's southside, early yesterday morning.  Fire Department spokesperson Dave Jephson says the blaze was reported at around 1:15am. Jephson says fortunately, the fire department was able to contain the fire damage to the basement.

Tumble Dryer Fire Wrecks Home - By Catherine Pye - Lancashire Telegraph (4/21/2010) ALTHAM, UK — A FAMILY lost all their possessions in less than 20 minutes after a blaze sparked by a dryer wrecked their home. Firefighters believe the fire began when a fluff build-up in the tumble dryer caught fire because of the heat produced by the machine.  They spent three hours tackling the blaze, which was so powerful it blew glass units out of the windows.

Clogged Dryer Vent Causes House Fire - WBTV CBS Channel 3 News (4/21/2010) MINT HILL, NC — A clogged dryer vent caused a fire at a home in eastern Mecklenburg County Tuesday morning.  Firefighters received the call around 9 a.m.  The fire scorched the vinyl siding near the side door and caused more than $25,000 in damage.

Dryer Fire Burns House - San Diego News Network (4/18/2010) San Diego, CA — A house was heavily damaged and a cat was killed by a fire that started in a clothes dryer Sunday, a dispatcher with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.  The flames were extinguished in about 15 minutes and, while no people were hurt, a cat was found dead, she said.  The fire caused $100,000 damage to the house and $50,000 to contents, according to the dispatcher.

Dryer Fire Empties Rescue Mission - Grand Forks Herald (4/15/2010) GRAND FORKS, ND — Residents and employees of the Northlands Rescue Mission in Grand Forks were evacuated Thursday morning after a clothes dryer caught fire in a laundry room.  Firefighters extinguished the fire and brought the dryer into an alley next to the mission. Smoke spread through the five floors of the building, senior firefighter Brandon Boespflug said.  We’d want to remind people, don’t leave their dryers unattended, Boespflug said.

House Fire Causes About $10,000 Damage - Jacksonville Journal Courier (4/15/2010) JACKSONVILLE, FL — Smoke from a clothes dryer fire caused about $10,000 damage to a house Thursday afternoon.  When the homeowner opened the dryer in the basement, flames shot out, according to Capt. Bryan McGee of the Jacksonville Fire Department.  She then ran upstairs and called 911, McGee said.  There was smoke damage throughout the one-story wood-frame house.

Dryer Fire Causes Substantial Damage to Home - WRCB TV NBC News (4/6/2010) CHATTANOOGA, TN — No one was injured when an apparent dryer fire broke out in a Chattanooga home Tuesday afternoon. Chattanooga firefighters got the alarm just after noon.  Flames were shooting through the roof of the garage when the first firefighters got on the scene. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control but he damage was extensive with a loss estimated at $100,000.

Fire's Smoke Renders Home Uninhabitable - By Charles McMahon - Foster's Daily Democrat (4/4/2010) PORTSMOUTH, NH — City firefighters swarmed a basement dryer fire shortly after 1 p.m. and brought the blaze under control within minutes.  The fire caused enough smoke damage that it rendered the home uninhabitable for the time being, Fire Capt. Bernie Marvin said. The fire spread from inside the appliance and burned a variety of basement's contents and shattered some of the cellar windows.

Dryer Blamed for House Fire - By Nancy Gonter - The Republican (4/3/2010) WARE, MA — Fire officials are investigating the cause of a Friday morning blaze at a single-family home that was reported as a clothes dryer fire, Chief Thomas W. Coulombe said.  When they arrived shortly after 10:30 a.m., firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the two-story home. T hey were called by the residents who said the dryer was on fire, Coulombe said.  It took nearly 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. It spread from the basement where the dryer was located into the walls of the first floor, the chief said.

Fire Destoys Gainesville Soldier's Home - FOX5 Atlanta News (4/1/2010) GAINESVILLE, GA — A fire caused by a dryer destroyed Nicole and Michael Walker's Gainesville home.  The tragic fire happened as Nicole was going to see her husband for the first time since a 10 month deployment in Afghanistan.  The Gainesville home was gutted by fire.

Blaze Originated In Dryer - KFOX14 News (3/31/2010) EL PASO, TX — A clothes dryer is to blame for a blaze that displaced a family Wednesday morning in east El Paso.  When crews arrived around 11:30 a.m., they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the laundry room of the home.  Lt. Mario Hernandez with the El Paso Fire Department told KFOX two adults who were home at the time of the fire escaped with their dog before firefighters arrived.  The fire was ruled accidental, damages were estimated at over $50,000.

One Fire Destroys Two Homes - 9 &10 News (3/31/2010) MESICK, MI — Two families are feeling the burn after one fire tore through their community.  Those families lost almost everything, and today they're trying to move on.  The fire started Tuesday night in Wexford County.  After sifting through the mess, the Fire Chief thinks a dryer is the cause of all the chaos.

Man Injured by Clothes Dryer Fire Dies - By Gary Kean - The Western Star (3/30/2010) CORNER BROOK, NL CANADA — A build-up of dryer lint is being blamed for a fire that has cost a Corner Brook man his life. The 62-year-old man, who was removed from a residence on Wheeler’s Road with serious burns , died at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s. According to a press release issued Monday by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the RNC’s fire investigator has determined the probable cause was a result of a clothes dryer vent hose overheating due to a buildup of lint, causing fire to start in the surrounding combustible materials.

Dryer Fire Ignites Home - WTAE ABC Channel 4 News Pittsburg (3/16/2010) CANONSBURG, PA — Fire crews said a dryer caught on fire and sent flames shooting through the second story of a Washington County home.  The fire happened on Wednesday morning at a home in Canonsburg.  Even though crews were able to contain the flames to just the one room, there was some other damage throughout the house.  "There's a good bit of fire damage in the bathroom laundry area and there's extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the house," said Assistant Canonsburg Fire Chief Dave Rhome.

Fire Leaves Family without Home - WHSV ABC Channel 3 News (3/8/2010) GROTTOES, VA — A mobile home fire in Grottoes has left one family displaced.  The fire began Wednesday morning. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the far end of the house.  The laundry room, kitchen, living room and one bedroom were destroyed.  Firefighters suspect it was a build up of lint in the dryer that caused the fire.  The family of five said they are not sure where they will stay but are thankful no one was hurt.

Fire Forces Family out of Home - WCSC Live 5 CBS News (3/8/2010) WEST ASHLEY, SC — A family of four was forced out of the West Ashley home by a fire early Monday morning.  Both the Charleston City Fire Department and St. Andrews Fire Department responded to the fire.  When they arrived, the family had gotten out of the house and smoke was visible.  The first floor sustained smoke, water, and fire damage.  The smoke also damaged the second floor.  Officials said the flames started in a dryer.

Tumble Dryer Fire - This is the Westcountry (3/7/2010) CHARD, SOMERSET, UK — FIRE crews have extinguished a tumble dryer fire at a house in the Furzehill area of Chard this afternoon.  They were called to the incident at 2.10pm to find smoke coming out of an out building.  The tumble dryer was severely damaged by the fire and the out building suffered moderate damage by smoke and heat.

Woman Escapes from House Fire - The Morning Journal (3/5/2010) VERMILION, OH — A house fire broke out around 1 p.m. Friday.  No one was reported injured according to Vermilion Fire Department Chief Chris Stempowski.  Stempowski said the fire is believed to have started in the dryer in the back of the house. From there, it spread through the ceiling and up into the attic.  The woman who lives in the house made it out and was treated by paramedics, he said.  He added that she had several pets in the home, most of which made it out safely.

Residents Escape Fire - Asbury Park Press (3/4/2010) LAKE COMO, NJ — Firefighters have extinguished a fire believed to have started in a basement dryer.  Two people in the home when the fire began, around 6:05 p.m., were able to escape before emergency responders arrived on the scene, Sgt. Nick Lakas said.  The fire was extinguished within 15 to 20 minutes, Lakas said.  It did not spread beyond the basement, which mostly only suffered water and smoke damage, Lakas said.

Fire Forces Evacuation of Townhouse - WSLS NBC News 10 (3/4/2010) LYNCHBURG, VA — A dryer fire evacuated a townhouse on Lynchburg College’s campus Thursday morning.  About a dozen students were evacuated, authorities said.  Three security guards were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported.  Emergency dispatchers received a call about the fire at 7:54 a.m.  It began in a dryer in the townhouse’s basement, said Battalion Chief Ninette Heath.  Heath praised the three security guards, whom she said ensured the students were out of the building quickly.

Firefighters Respond to Fire - By Dennis Yusko - Times Union (3/2/2010) COHOES, NY — Three fire departments were called to extinguish a house fire that started just before 6 p.m.  Cohoes, Watervliet and Green Island firefighters were at the scene of the fire, which they said started in a clothes dryer in a rear area of the home, according to Cohoes Capt. Will Charbonneau.  No one was injured in the fire, which caused some smoke damage and forced a young couple from the two-story home that was closely bordered by other homes.

Neighbor Spots Fire, Alerts Family - By Robert Boyer - The Times News (2/26/2010) BURLINGTON, NC — Sharp eyes and quick thinking kept a fire from possibly turning deadly in north-central Burlington, firefighters said.  The fire apparently began sometime before 3 p.m., said Burlington Fire Capt. Bud Catoe.  Heavy smoke billowed from the home’s attic when firefighters arrived several minutes after getting the call at 3 p.m., Catoe said.  A dryer had caught fire and sparked the blaze, Catoe said. Firefighters put out the fire in just under 15 minutes, but it had already started burning the walls of the utility room.  Damage to the home was estimated at roughly $10,000.

House Fire Displaces Family - By Sarah Lane - The Washington Post (2/25/2010) WOODBRIDGE, VA — A family was displaced when a fire broke out in a Woodbridge townhouse.  Responding fire and rescue units found a fire raging on the first floor of the townhouse.  Two adults and two children were home and were safely evacuated. Two firefighters suffered minor burns and were treated.  Officials said the cause of the fire was a malfunctioning dryer vent. Property damage is estimated at $100,000, according to the Prince William County Fire Marshal's Office.

Pets Die in Fire - By Cynthia M. Ellis - The Alton Telegraph (2/24/2010) ALTON, IL — Two pets died and a firefighter was injured when a dryer ignited in an apartment in the Oakwood Estates housing project. Alton Fire Department responded at 12:40 p.m. after a neighbor called 911.  "When we arrived smoke was showing," said Capt. Tim Quigley with the Alton Fire Department.  Quigley said the tenant had left shortly before the blaze began and returned as soon as she heard about it. "She lost both her pets," he said.  Quigley said the cause of the fire was determined to be the dryer.  He said the blaze likely started from overheating or lint buildup.

Family of Nine Escapes House Fire - Fox 6 Now (2/22/2010) MILWAUKEE, WI — A South Milwaukee house fire leaves a family of nine homeless.  The fire raced through their home late this morning, and the smoke quickly filled the house.  The one who discovered the fire and alerted everyone was just three-years-old.  The family who lived at the home managed to escape with their lives, but they lost everything else.Three-year-old Hannah was the first to see fire shooting out of the basement dryer.

Nine Evacuated After Dryer Blaze - The Press (2/22/2010) YORK, UK — FIREFIGHTERS were called to a property in Bull Lane on Saturday afternoon after reports of a kitchen fire.  Fire crews from York and Acomb attended the scene shortly before 2.30pm.  Eight adults, a baby and two dogs were evacuated from the property. Paramedics at the scene treated one woman for smoke inhalation.  A spokesman said the blaze, which started in a tumble dryer, caused severe fire and smoke damage to the kitchen.

Four Homeless After Flames Gut House - By Chris forshey - News Talk 1240 WRTA (2/17/2010) ALTOONA, PA — An Altoona woman and her three children are homeless after flames rip through their home.  The blaze broke out a little after 7:30PM Wednesday.  It took city firefighters more than two hours to bring the flames under control.  Part of 6th Avenue was closed for about three hours.  The call came into the Blair County 911 center as a reported dryer fire.  The house is a total loss.

Fire Sends Seniors to Hospital - By Tammy Stables Battaglia - Detroit Free Press (2/11/2010) FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A dryer fire hospitalized four Farmington Hills senior citizens and forced others out of their homes early today. The fire broke out at Detroit Baptist Manor, 30245 W. 13 Mile Road, Farmington Hills Police Lt. John Markey said. Residents were taken to a common area in the building while firefighters battled the flames, Markey said.  A firefighter said the hospitalized seniors were transported mainly for smoke inhalation.

Dryer Fire Causes $18,000 Damage - By Kasey Fowler - Enid News and Eagle (2/10/2010) ENID, OK — An Enid home sustained considerable damage from an accidental dryer fire Wednesday afternoon.  The fire was contained mostly in one room in the back of the house.  The suppression crews made a quick knockdown of the fire, said Bill Moss, assistant fire marshal.  The property was valued at $40,000 and sustained an estimated $18,000 damage.

Red Cross Helps Family After Fire - WREX NBC Rockford News Channel 13 (2/5/2010) ROCKFORD, IL — A Rockford family gets help from the Red Cross after fire damages their home.  Firefighters were called tjust before two this afternoon.  They found a fire in the dryer, but it had spread to the ceiling and appliances near it.  The fire damaged the basement, but smoke got to the rest of the house.  It caused about $20,000 damage.

Family of 5 escapes 2-alarm House Fire - By Bill Kirk - The Eagle Tribune (2/5/2010) METHUEN, MA — A 2-alarm fire at a split-level house on Anderson Drive caused extensive damage to the structure but no injuries to the occupants or firefighters battling the blaze.  The house is heavily damaged and could not be occupied after the fire, according to police Lt. Kevin Mahoney.  It appears the blaze started in a dryer in the basement.

Fire Displaces Two Families - Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (2/5/2010) ROCHESTER, NY — A fire at a two-unit Bay Street home on Thursday displaced two families.  City firefighters responded to the fire at Bay St. about 8 p.m.  Fire officials said the fire was caused by a clothes dryer. The Red Cross is helping the victims.

Dryer Fire Leaves Family Without Home - By Monica Pryts - The Sharon Herald (2/3/2010) FAIRVIEW, PA — An overheated clothes dryer started a fire Monday night at a Fairview Township home, forcing the family to live elsewhere.  The 6:30 p.m. fire was ruled accidental, said George Benninghoff, chief of Fredonia Volunteer Fire Department. The spread was very rapid, Benninghoff said Tuesday.  Flames were coming from the roof when firefighters arrived and parts of the home not destroyed by the heat were heavily damaged by smoke and water.

Fire Causes $20,000 Damage to Home - By Rona Proudfoot - The Chronicle-Telegram (2/2/2010) ELYRIA, OH — A fire that started in a clothes dryer caused $20,000 damage to an Elyria home and forced the homes’ occupants to find somewhere else to stay.  The fire started in the dryer, Elyria Fire Department Chief Rich Benton said.  The fire spread to some boxes surrounding the dryer in the home’s basement.  The fire caused $15,000 damage to the home and $5,000 to its contents, Benton said.

Fire Destroys Home - By Greg Little - The Gonzales Inquirer (1/28/2010) EDGEWATER, FL — A historic home in Gonzales caught fire and was heavily damaged by fire and smoke.  At 4:43 p.m., the call came in to the Gonzales Fire Department that a house located at St. Francis Street was on fire.  Gonzales Fire Chief Keith Schmidt said they have determined the fire apparently started with an dryer located in the northeast corner of the house on the bottom floor.

Clothes-dryer Fire - By Henry Frederick - New Smyrna Beach News (1/28/2010) EDGEWATER, FL — A clothes-dryer fire Wednesday afternoon in the garage of a home at 36th St. was quickly extinguished by Edgewater Fire-Rescue, but not before causing $20,000 in damages.  However, firefighters prevented the 12:01 fire from spreading, which saved the $150,000 home, said Capt. Jill Danigel, the agency's spokeswoman.  "Upon arrival crews found flames and heavy smoke pouring for the attached garage of the home," Danigel said.  Due to the extensive damage in the garage, the power supply to the residence had to be shut off and the occupants have been temporarily displaced from the home.

Dryer Lint Causes House to Burn - Springfield State Journal-Register (1/28/2010) SPRINGFIELD, IL — Springfield fire officials say lint in a dryer vent sparked a blaze that damaged a home Thursday morning. People in the house heard the smoke alarm go off around 7:40 a.m.  No injuries were reported, but firefighters said two adults and four children were displaced.  There was damage to the first floor and the attic.

Dryer Fire - Navarre Press (1/26/2010) NAVARRE, FL — After a mere six minutes, Holley-Navarre Fire District firefighters had contained and later extinguished a dryer vent fire Monday afternoon.  Central dispatch received a structure fire call around 2:23 p.m., with the first crews arriving on scene at 2:29 p.m. Smoke could be seen billowing from the garage door.  The wife of the homeowner was home at the time, doing laundry.  Unbeknownst to her, the vent caught fire while a load of laundry was drying.  Firefighters were able to rescue a dog trapped in the smoke-filled house.  The fire caused roughly $3,000 in damage.

Clothes Dryer Blamed for Fire - WTOP 103.5 FM News Radio (1/22/2010) KINGSTOWNE, VA — A clothes dryer has been blamed for an accidental fire in a townhouse Thursday night.  The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says the fire did about $75,000 damage in the 7300 block of Larrup Court.  The family living there escaped without injury.  The fire damaged the first floor kitchen and extended to the second floor.

Dryer Fire Damages House - The Patriot Ledger (1/14/2010) QUINCY,MA — The back of the house was damaged Wednesday after a clothes dryer caught fire.  A Quincy firefighter said they received the call at 2:32 p.m.  Three engines, two ladder trucks and a rescue vehicle responded, Capt. John Gillan of the fire department said.

Tumble Dryer Sparks Blaze Drama - The St. Helens Reporter (1/13/2010) ST. HELENS, UK — A tumble dryer caused fire damage at a house in St Helens.  A neighbour alerted fire crews to a fire in Wisteria Way at 1pm on Sunday.  Crews forced entry into the house to find the tumble dryer in the ground floor utility room had set on fire.  The fire caused severe damage to the room and smoke damage to the house.  Crews used a hose reel to put the fire out.

Clothes Dryer Ignites, Damaging Home - The Canton Rep (1/12/2010) ALLIANCE, OH — A couple was forced from their home Monday when a fire broke out in the basement of the house.  The fire, according to the city Fire Department, apparently was started by a clothes dryer.  It went up the steps to the upper level, said Inspector Guy Aumend of the Fire epartment.  Downstairs was worse.  Upstairs was just smoke damage.  Damage was estimated at $10,000 to contents and $10,000 to the structure.

Clothes Dryer Blamed for Apartment Fire - By Alexander Supgul - FOX News Houston (1/5/2010) HOUSTON, TX — Four units in a southwest Houston apartment complex are left damaged after fire spreads from a laundry room.  Houston firefighters arrived Tuesday to find heavy smoke coming from a two-story building within the complex. Firefighters made what they call a "fast attack" and determined that the fire started from a dryer in the laundry room.  Flames spread upstairs to a boiler room and through a wall and ceiling to cause damage to two second-level units.  Two units on the first level had smoke and water damage.

Riviera Beach Fire - WPBF ABC News Channel 25 (1/4/2010) RIVIERA BEACH, FL — A Riviera Beach couple was displaced after a dryer in their house caught fire Monday morning.  The fire started at about 7 a.m.  Fire investigators said they believe the blaze started from a dryer in a utility room and spread to the rest of the house.

Fire Destroys Battlefield Farmhouse - By Pamela Gould - The Free Lance Star (1/4/2010) FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A century-old farmhouse that sits on historic property in the Wilderness Battlefield area was destroyed by fire this weekend.  Both tenants of the home and their dog escaped without injury Saturday. The fire started in a clothes dryer shortly after 6 p.m.  The occupants were impeded in their ability to extinguish it by water pipes impacted by the sub-freezing temperatures, according to resident Susan Lyons.

Fire Displaces Family - WKOW TV ABC News Madison (1/4/2010) BELOIT, WI — A Beloit family stayed with relatives Sunday night after a fire damaged their home. It happened just before 10 p.m.  Firefighters say it started in a clothes dryer.  The fire damaged the basement and first floor, plus there is smoke damage throughout the house.

Fire Damages Home in St.Clair Township - By Tara Hagan - Ontario Observer (1/3/2010) ONTARIO, CANADA — Three people made it out safely, after a fire broke out at a St.Clair Township home, Sunday morning. Volunteer firefighters from Brigden and Courtright stations responded just after 11 a.m., where officials say a fire was sparked by a clothes dryer.  "The washer and dryer were in the kitchen, so it pretty much gutted the kitchen out," said St.Clair Township Fire Chief Roy Dewhirst.  "And there was heavy smoke damage throughout the rest of the house."  Dewhirst said three people were at the home when the fire broke out, and one was taken to Petrolia's CEEH hospital for observation.

Two Firefighters Injured in Blaze - By Mick Zawislak - Chicago Daily Herald (1/2/2010) OAKWOOD HILLS, IL — A fire that started in a dryer damaged an Oakwood Hills home Saturday and resulted in minor injuries to two firefighters.  A resident at 13 Lakeshore Drive smelled smoke and called for help.  Firefighters found smoke coming from the rear of the two-story home and were advised the fire was in the lower level utility room.  The Fox River Grove and Nunda Rural fire departments provided water tankers at the scene as the home is located in an area without fire hydrants.  Two firefighters from the Cary Fire Protection District were taken in good condition to Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington for evaluation of smoke inhalation.

Fire Damages Kittery Home - By Geoff Cunningham Jr. - Foster's Daily Democrat (1/2/2010) KITTERY, ME — A two-alarm blaze in a residence caused significant damage to a single-family home.  Kittery Deputy Fire Chief Jason Lonergan said no one was injured in the blaze at the home.  Radio communications indicated the fire began in a dryer. The fire summoned units from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, York, Portsmouth and Kittery.  The fire caused the most damage in the first floor of the home, but burned up the side of the two-story residence.  Firefighters used water from a tanker to knock down the fire, but supplemented water by running a hose from a hydrant down the dead-end street.  The deputy chief said occupants of the home would not be allowed to return to their residence.

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