TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Fire Department responded to a second story house fire that caused an estimated $8,000 in damages.
According to a TFD press release, on Thursday at about 11:38 a.m., TFD received a call of a possible structure fire at 1848 Ivy Lane.
Officials said fire units arrived on scene in six minutes and were met with smoke coming from a second story residence.
Firefighters entered the home and found the fire behind the dryer. Crews then extinguished the fire and made certain that no one was still inside the home.
TFD said the cause of the fire was determined to be from a faulty dryer.
TFD would like to remind citizens of the following tips for dryer care/safety:
• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a qualified professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
• Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
• Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions and don’t overload your dryer.
• Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed
