Dryer Likely to Blame for San Pablo House Fire That Sent 2 Residents to Hospital

Update:

A clothes dryer appears to be the source of a fire at a San Pablo home this morning that sent two men to the hospital, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District fire inspector said.

The blaze was reported around 7:20 a.m. at a home in the 1800 block of 18th Street and was under control about 12 minutes later, according to fire officials. Firefighters rescued a bedridden man in his 70s inside the home. A man in his 40s also living at the home made several unsuccessful attempts to rescue the bedridden resident before crews arrived, Fire Inspector Lisa Martinez said.

The two men were taken to hospitals to be treated for smoke inhalation. The fire caused about $50,000 to $75,000 in damage and displaced the two men from their home. Both plan to stay with family members after their release from the hospital, Martinez said. The fire inspector said the blaze apparently started in a dryer in the home’s converted garage, burning the garage and spreading to the house’s main living area.

“The big thing to remember is that dryer fires are common and they’re normally caused because the lint trap is not cleaned out,” Martinez said. Residents are advised to clean out their dryer’s lint filter with each load of laundry and to regularly unplug the machine and clean inside and underneath the dryer where lint can become trapped.

Fire officials also encourage removing the dryer’s outer vent and vacuuming up any lint or having it professionally cleaned, Martinez said.

Original story:

One person has been taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation after a fire burned at a home in San Pablo this morning, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District officials said. The fire was reported at 7:20 a.m. at 1858 18th St. and was controlled 12 minutes later, fire dispatchers said.

A bedridden resident inside the home was rescued by firefighters and taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, fire district officials said. More information about the fire was not immediately available this morning.

By Bay City News