Blackberry Knolls Fire Caused by Dryer

The Oswego Fire Protection District was dispatched to a residential fire at about 8:25 a.m. Friday in Blackberry Knolls in Oswego. 

Firefighters found a fire at a home in the 400 block of Grape Vine Trail that Battalion Chief Josh Flanders said was caused from a dryer.

"It was a very involved dryer fire," he said. There was little damage done and minor smoke damage to the home, although the dryer was very badly burned.

Many dryer fires are caused by the lint trap, said Flanders. The cause of this one could not be determined due to the state of the dryer.

"A lot of people clean their lint traps, but don't clean the space the lint trap sits in. That accumulates lint too," said Flanders, as well as the tubing that connects the dryer to outside. The extra lint makes it easier for the dryers to catch fire.

Very old dryers are also susceptible to catching on fire, said Flanders.

The fire was taken care of very quickly and the house turned back over to the owners after ventilation. 

Special thanks to Dawn Aagesen for the photos.