TEMPLE – A fire in a clothes dryer was to blame for damaging a single story home Monday morning.
Homeowner Glenn Palmer returned from running errands in town to his house at 487 Intervale Road and saw black smoke coming from inside the structure, said Temple Fire Chief David True.
“He didn’t open the door and that was the smart thing to do,” True said. By not opening an door, Palmer managed to keep the oxygen level low inside the double wide mobile home which helped keep the fire from spreading further.
Fire fighters were called to the home at 9:24 a.m. on Monday. Temple and the mutual aid towns of Farmington, Wilton, Strong, New Sharon and Chesterville were called to respond. The town departments from Wilton, Strong, New Sharon and Chesterville were called back to station after crews on scene managed to knock the fire down quickly.
The fire started in the clothes dryer and spread into the laundry room. The first fire fighters to arrive put on their air packs and went in through the side door where the laundry room is located. The fire, which produced heavy black smoke, was soon extinguished. Temple’s Engine 1 & 2 tankers provided water.
No one was injured. The family’s cats escaped outside and were fine.
The home is “not livable,” True said, due to the destroyed laundry room at one end of the home and heavy smoke damage throughout. The home was insured.
About 15 fire fighters responded to the morning fire located at nearly the end of Intervale Road in Temple.
“We always get a good turnout,” True said of the responding mutual aid towns.
Glenn= I am sorry for the loss of your home. So, glad that you and the cat were fine.
Sorry for his loss. I was cautioned many years ago not to leave my drier going when leaving home,also another caution was to always leave a toaster unplugged when not in use. Good tips!!!
So glad everyone is safe and I’m very sorry for the loss of your home!
Glenn is my brother and we are very thankful he and his cats are all okay. Glenn was in his garage and smelled the smoke coming from the house.
PLEASE…make note of this. I know of 3 people who lost their homes to dryer fires. I NEVER, EVER leave
my house with the dryer running. EVER!!!
In the fall, I pull my dryer out, clean under it, and clean the dryer vent, taking the whole thing apart and
vacuuming it all out. Takes about an hour. But it makes me breathe easier, knowing the dryer is cleaned
out for another year. Have done this for years…after my daughter’s best friend lost her home to a dryer
fire.
Always clean the lint trap after each load. If it’s a large load of towels or other fabric that’s apt to produce a lot of lint, it’s wise to clean it part way through the dry cycle. This also makes it more efficient at drying and so cuts down your energy bill. This is probably the most common reason for dryer fires.
The dryer should have a metal exhaust pipe, not flexible plastic.
Regularly clean the exhaust and check for obstructions. You can buy a brush made for this, they are not expensive and make the job far easier.
Make sure the dryer has an air supply. It’s moving a LOT of air, if it can’t get it, it will overheat.
Keep the area around the dryer clear and clean.
Make sure there is nothing stored nearby that can release combustible fumes- paint cans, aerosol cans, cleaning supplies, etc.
If the dryer is making strange sounds- get it serviced. Most dryers are pretty simple- it doesn’t take a lot to keep them working.
Better than not running the dryer when you’re not home- is making sure the dryer doesn’t ever catch fire.