Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 | 7:16 p.m.
Dryer fire
A Las Vegas woman was taken to the hospital Saturday to be treated for smoke inhalation after a clothes dryer caught on fire in her home.
The fire was caused by lint that accumulated in and around the natural gas dryer in the home on Sing Song Way.
There was light smoke in the house when firefighters arrived, but it only took a minute to get the situation under control, according to Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski.
One other adult and three children were in the home at the time of the fire, but they were not injured.
The fire destroyed the dryer and caused some slight damage to the home. The fire department estimated the damage to be about $600.
The family told firefighters the dryer had been taking longer to dry clothes, which is a sign that the dryer’s vent may be blocked with lint, Szymanski said.
Lint trays should be cleaned out between each use and ductwork should be cleaned every few years to ensure that the machine does not start a fire or release carbon monoxide.
Keeping the dryer clean will also help it work more efficiently, saving money and energy, Szymanski said.
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