Dryer Fire Damages Petaluma Home

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma firefighters said a working smoke detector prevented over $800,000 in possible damage after a laundry machine caught fire in a residence Saturday evening. Firefighters responded to the structure fire at 7:52 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Calle Ranchero.

When they arrived, they saw a house with the garage door open and a moderate amount of smoke coming from inside the area. They determined that the fire was located in a clothes dryer, and they categorized the flame as a "working fire," according to Jeff Schach, a battalion chief for the Petaluma Fire Department.

Firefighters entered the garage and quickly extinguished the flames in the small laundry room between the garage and the rest of the house, Schach said in a news release.

Schach said there was light smoke throughout the home and firefighters searched the house for any victims.

A woman who lived in the house was able to impede the flames with a fire extinguisher before the emergency responders arrived, the battalion chief said.

She and her dog evacuated the house prior to their arrival and they were not injured, Schach said. The damage to the laundry room and appliances is estimated to cost $2,500.

PG&E restored gas and electricity in the residence and the woman was able to return home.

By Bay City News Service

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