JULY 7, 2015
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
A Rolando man was recovering in the hospital Tuesday after leaping from a balcony to escape his burning home.
Some clothes in the man’s dryer caught fire around 10 p.m. Monday and quickly spread throughout the home at 5818 Estelle Street, firefighters said. Three neighbors went outside to investigate after hearing a smoke alarm.
The man went upstairs as the flames spread and the neighbors could see him opening doors and windows to allow smoke to escape, unaware that the fire was getting worse. He eventually got stuck on the balcony after the flames spread throughout the residence.
Neighbors convinced him to jump to escape the burning home and caught him when he did.
The man was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to his leg.
The fire caused about $100,000 in damage, authorities said.
Make sure that you remove your clothes from the dryer, as dryer fires such as these ones are occurring with some frequency.