News Reports

Officials: Yuma fire underscores need for smoke detectors

(Yuma, AZ)

Mar. 24--A fire in a laundry room early Thursday morning demonstrates the importance of having properly working smoke detectors in the home, the Yuma Fire Department says.

The 4 a.m. fire in the home at 2862 S. 18th Ave. set off a smoke detector that awakened the residents, who then began fighting flames and meanwhile called the Yuma Fire Department.

Firefighters extinguished the fire before it could spread beyond the laundry room. There were no injuries.
"It's just a good example of how (smoke detectors) save lives and protect property," said Mike Erfert, public information officer for the fire department.

Smoke detectors are "very cheap insurance" for the homeowner, he added. "The only drawback is that you need to continue to check them periodically."

Fire investigators determined that the fire originated from lint buildup in the filter and exhaust vent of a dryer in laundry room, according to a fire department news release.

Erfert said residents should keep dryers free of lint, but should also keep in mind that the typical household laundry room contains a number of different potential fire hazards.

Hot water heaters, often found in laundry rooms, can be a source of fire, he said, while flammable cleaning solvents or flammable cloth or clothing can feed the flames.

The fire department says kitchens also contain multiple fire ignition sources, among them ovens, stoves and electrical sources.