Dryer Vent Probably Started Unexpected Fire

This afternoon a most unfortunate alleged dryer accident ignited a house in Wake Forest at 1040 Bear Hollow Road.

Located at the end of a dirt road that wound back through the thick trees, the fire trucks, Wake EMS and Wake County Sheriff’s office managed to wind their way in.

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The Channel 11 helicopter made an appearance and hovered overhead as smoke billowed out the windows and gable end of the attic.

Smoke pours out of windows at the house on Bear Hollow Rad.
Smoke pours out of windows at the house on Bear Hollow Rad.

According to Charlie, the father-in-law, only Rick Sheen, the husband, was at home working in his shop next door at the time of the fire. Charlie said he wasn’t sure of the cause but a load of clothes had just been put in the dryer and the fire was in the laundry room.

Professionals at the scene postulated it could have been a dryer vent fire. We will have to wait for the official investigation to know for certain.

Smoke pours from the laundry room window with charred siding above the open window.
Smoke pours from the laundry room window with charred siding above the open window.

Firefighters pushed upstairs windows out of the way and smoke found those openings to escape.

Stony Hill Fire Department on the scene.
Stony Hill Fire Department on the scene.

A number of different departments responded including Stony Hill, Bay Leaf, and Wake Forest. Many units staged outside of the narrow windy dirt road and three Stony Hill trucks appeared to be first on the scene.

Initial heavy smoke blanketed the scene.
Initial heavy smoke blanketed the scene.

The various departments appeared to work seamlessly to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.

Stony Hill firefighters head inside.
Stony Hill firefighters head inside.

Along with Stony Hill Chief AC Rich, Wake Forest Assistant Chief Cash appeared to run the scene like a professional.

Wake Forest Asst. Chief Cash watches over both Bay Leaf and Stony Hill firefighters.
Wake Forest Asst. Chief Cash watches over both Bay Leaf and Stony Hill firefighters.

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