Local News
Dryer fire in Port Jervis prompts safety reminder
By Sharon E. Siegel
Apr 18, 2008, 07:39 PST

Do not turn you dryer off and leave wet, hot clothes in it.

If you are drying clothes in a dryer, be sure the time you set your dryer to run is enough to completely dry the clothes. This is a reminder that comes as a result of a recent fire call to a rental home at 22 West Main Street in Port Jervis.

The call came in at approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 8, 2008, with Port Jervis Fire Department units on the scene by 7:35 a.m.

It was determined that a dryer in the basement had been turned off when the clothes were half dry. The clothes were left in the closed dryer, and about a hour later, spontaneous combustion caused them to ignite.

While the fire was quickly extinguished, smoke damage to the entire West Main Street house and extensive damage to the dryer and clothing was sustained.

While this may not be a danger thought to be common or likely, Kowal said his department has responded to similar calls in the past.

Last year, his department received a call reporting the smell of burning plastic. Using thermal imaging equipment, they traced the problem to a sealed bag of hot, damp clothing that had been transported home from a laundromat. When the bag was opened, the clothing ignited.

“Hot, wet clothes should never be left in any container that is sealed,” cautioned Port Jervis Fire Chief Joseph Kowal.

All Port Jervis units responded to the scene. Units from Matamoras, Pennsylvania and from Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville, New York were placed on standby.