Dryer to Blame in Basement Fire on Holly Avenue

At 1:07 p.m., firefighters from Montgomery and Prince George's counties responded to a fire in the basement of a single-family home in the 7400 block of Holly Avenue.

"A dryer vent caught on fire," said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Duty Chief Steve Jones, adding that the vent was clogged and as a result, the dryer overheated and caught fire.

Jones said that it took approximately two minutes to extinguish the fire.

Lena Williams, an aide who works for D.C.-based Home Care Partners, was taking care of the elderly homeowner at the time of the fire.

"I saw smoke going the opposite way outside the window," Williams, 81, said. "I went to the basement. I saw the dryer on fire and unplugged it."

Williams said that she ran back upstairs and called the fire department, and then escorted her charge outside to wait for firefighters.

Firefighters from three Silver Spring stations—1, 19 and 16—Station 2 in Takoma Park and Chillium Stations 34 and 44 converged on the scene in response to the call, according to Jones.

Jones urged residents to check their dryer vents and to keep them clean and free of lint. He also noted the importance of regular battery checks in home smoke detectors.

Damages to the home are estimated at $7,000, he added.