News Reports

Albemarle fire started by dryer

10/10/2006 6:20 PM
By: Jennifer Moxley

ALBEMARLE, N.C. -- An early morning fire at an assisted living facility in Stanly County was started by one of the facilities' dryers.No staff members or residents were injured in the blaze, and the damage was contained to the laundry room of the Spring Arbor Assisted Living Facility.

"I was very relieved, you know, because my first thoughts are my residents – are they going to be in danger," said Phyllis Meservey who works at the facility.

Seventeen residents were evacuated within minutes of the alarm - the result of fire drills and evacuation practice by staff members.

"We actually go to the rooms, where we take the residents out and we have assigned places where they should be out, and there is an assigned staff member to each residence hall," said Meservey. "Once they are out we take a count and make sure they are all out safely."

According to Fire Marshall Brian Taylor the leading cause of dryer fires is lack of maintenance.

Dryer fires cause an estimated $65 million in property damage annually.

Taylor said that while dryers at facilities like Spring Arbor are typically serviced every three months, dryers in private residences are serviced much less often.

That is why it is important to clean the lint trap and the exhaust system behind the dryer.

"Lint is combustible," said Taylor. "It's fine and will ignite quicker than a thick solid would."

While dryer fires are serious, according to the National Fire Protection Agency, cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Fires started by cigarettes are the leading cause of fire-related fatalities.

For more fire safety information visit the National Fire Protection Agency.