Firefighters are reminding the public to properly maintain their laundry machines after a dryer caught fire overnight and destroyed an East Vancouver home.
The blaze broke out in the back laundry room of a house in the 2400-block of Adanac Street at around 12:40 a.m., and quickly spread throughout the residence.
Battalion Chief Monte Watson said crews "initially made a good attack inside the house, but the flames came into the upper area and they had to evacuate quickly."
One occupant was awake watching TV when the fire started, and managed to get his entire family outside safely. A basement tenant also made it out unharmed.
More than 30 firefighters battled the blaze, but the house was substantially damaged by fire and smoke and has been deemed uninhabitable.
A fire investigator has determined the cause to be accidental, and directly related to the home's clothes dryer.
Vancouver firefighters urge the public to ensure dryers are properly vented, and that lint screens are cleaned out after every load of laundry.
