Dryers burn in laundry fire
Published 10:24 am Thursday, November 13, 2014
Firefighters dump smoldering clothes on the ground outside the Maytag Coin Laundry on First Avenue Southwest following a fire in one of the dryers Wednesday afternoon. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
An Austin firefighter signals for a pike as firefighters worked Wednesday morning to knock down a dryer fire at the Maytag Coin Laundry. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin firefighters responded Wednesday to a dryer fire at the Maytag Coin Laundry on First Avenue Southwest.
A call came in at 12:44 p.m. that a dryer was on fire. Austin Police responded first and initially put the fire out, which engulfed a stacked dryer with two machines, but it flared again. Flames were visible when firefighters arrived on scene.
Total damage estimates are currently unknown, but there is smoke damage. According to Commander Tom Schulte, patrons inside the laundry were out of the building when crews arrived and two other businesses — The Asian Market Oriental Grocery and Highly Defined Beauty Emporium — were also evacuated. They sustained light smoke, but nothing serious.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Austin firefighters check the vents on the roof of the Maytag Coin Laundry on First Avenue Southwest Wednesday afternoon after a dryer fire was knocked down. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
