On April 6, 2009 at 1:27 a.m., firefighters responded to a structure fire with occupants still inside at the 17900 block of Lemon Ave. in Hesperia. Upon arrival, firefighters found the garage of the approximate 1500 square foot home fully engulfed in fire. The fire quickly spread into the attic, causing the ceiling to collapse in part of the home. With an aggressive attack, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and keep the home from being completely destroyed.
There were two adults and three children inside the home when the fire started, however they were able to escape on their own unharmed. The residence sustained moderate damage and the garage was completely destroyed.
A preliminary investigation indicates the possibility the fire was caused by the dryer in the garage.
Build up of lint in a dryer can cause the dryer to overheat and catch on fire. Lint build up can also cause the dryer belt to break, keeping the drum from turning, which can cause the clothes inside to catch fire. A reminder that dryer lint screens should be cleaned after each use. Dryer hose vents should be vented to the outdoors and checked on a regular basis. Please note, it has not been determined if this is what caused the dryer at this home to catch fire.
Submitted by J. Kern SBcoFD
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