News Reports

Clothing Dryer Sparks House Fire

March 21, 2006 10:22 PM EDT

Email to a Friend Printer Friendly Version  Reporter Sloane HellerThe fire started during rush hour Wednesday morning, right around 8:00am. A teenage boy was home when the blaze started but he was not injured.

The Rock Island Fire Department says a clothing dryer in the basement of this family duplex started the fire.

Because the walls of the home were built without fire stops, the blaze quickly spread all the way to the attic and burned part of the back roof. Fire Captain Jim Fobert said basement fires can be some of the most difficult to put out.

"One thing about basement fires it's kind of contained in the basement, it's hot, there's only one way in that's the stairwell." Rock Island Fire Captain Jim Fobert said.

Some of the family members that lived in the home stood outside watching the blaze in total shock. One of the sons told Channel 4 Eyewitness News his parents had just renovated the top story of their house. Neighbors gathered on the sidewalks in disbelief.

"I just walked out and saw a lot of smoke, I couldn't even get to work." Chers Welsh, a neighbor, said.
The fire department said the family does have insurance but they're not sure if they will ever be able to move back in.

"We end up with a lot of guys inside. They have to tear down the walls, tear down the ceiling to chase the fire through the house." Rock Island Fire Chief Jerry Shirk said.

The Red Cross is helping the family of five with temporary housing until they know where things stand.