Dryer Fire Causes $5K in Damage to Michell's Laundromat

San Rafael firefighters on Thursday afternoon doused a small blaze that started inside a dryer at Michell's Laundromat at 5th and California avenues in the Sun Valley neighborhood of the city, Fire Chief Chris Gray said.

Firefighters were called to the laundromat at around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Gray said, on a report from a resident who was using the laundry facilities and spotted the fire in one of the dryers. Laundromat patrons were evacuated without any injuries.

Firefighters found smoke coming from the multi-unit building that contains four other businesses, and saw smoke spreading from the dryer to the rest of the building. Firefighters put the fire out, noticing a build-up of lint in and around venting. They also found related mechanical and electrical issues which likely contributed to the cause and spread of the fire, Gray said.

PG&E shut down power to the building. The businesses in the building, which also includes a nail spa and a compter repair shop, are closed until they can make the necessary repairs.

The fire is under investigation and appears to have been started by maintenance related conditions involving the dryer, Gray said.