Fire Crews Respond To East El Paso House Fire

At about 11:22 a.m. Tuesday, El Paso Fire Dept. fire crews were sent to a house fire in the 9800 block of Everwood in East El Paso.

Fire crews saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the left side of the home when they arrived. More than 20 firefighters and seven units responded to the fire.

The fire originated in the back laundry room and spread to half of the home’s attic space. Fire crews stopped the fire from spreading any further and placed the fire under control within 15 to 20 minutes.

Two adults and one child were inside the home at the time of the fire but safely evacuated. No injuries were reported. American Red Cross of El Paso is assisting the family of six with a place to stay.

Fire investigators determined improper dryer maintenance was the cause of the fire. Damages are estimated at $25,000.

The El Paso Fire Department would like to stress the importance of proper dryer maintenance in your home to prevent these types of fires from happening.

Here are few tips to keep in mind: ? Clean the lint trap before and after drying each load of clothes. ? Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped. ? If you notice the drying time is longer, clean the vent system thoroughly to ensure proper airflow. ? Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting. ? Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode. ? Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.