Firefighters stay on scene after a fire broke out due to a malfunctioning dryer in Grand Forks, ND on Thursday, August 20, 2015. (Grand Forks Herald/ Joshua Komer)
UPDATED: Grand Forks home fire caused by lint build-up
By Kevin Bonham on Aug 21, 2015 at 7:53 a.m.
A fire that damaged a home Thursday night in Grand Forks has been ruled accidental.
Grand Forks Fire Department responded to the fire at about 7 p.m. at 1017 Cherry St. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes, Capt. Jason Swope said, although crews stayed on the scene much longer.
The fire started in the basement and was caused by lint build-up in an electric dryer vent, according to the fire department. The dryer was running at the time of the fire, which started when the lint ignited. The vent then reached a temperature in which it ignited nearby wooden structural components of the home.
One room in the home suffered fire and water damage, according to the department. The rest of the home sustained extensive smoke damage.
The family was home at the time of the fire, Swope said. No one was injured in the blaze.