News Reports

Dryer lint buildup sparks fatal fire

September 9, 2005

A fire late Wednesday at a rural Yamhill County house killed a 68-year-old woman and injured another woman and two children.

Firefighters were called at 11:06 p.m. to the house on Grahm Avenue north of the city of Yamhill.
Firefighters stayed outside to attack the flames because of the fire's intensity. About 50 firefighters were on the scene.

Six of the family members who lived there had evacuated before firefighters arrived.

They include a 30-year-old woman and a 4-year-old boy who were taken by Life Flight to Legacy Emanuel Hospital for treatment of extensive burns and injuries. A 7-year-old girl was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries and later was released.

All are improving, said Debbie McDermott, a fire inspector for the McMinnville Fire Department
A man and two teenage girls were not injured.

The identity of the woman who died was not released.

The home was destroyed and the loss was estimated at $100,000.

The fire started under the house when lint from a dryer vent ignited. The dryer was not able to completely vent under the house, officials said.

-- Cara Roberts Murez