ELYRIA — A fire that started in a clothes dryer overnight caused $20,000 damage to an Elyria home and forced the homes’ occupants to find somewhere else to stay.

The Elyria Fire Department was called to 528 Wesley Ave., off of North Abbe Road just north of the Ohio Turnpike, about 10:15 p.m., according to Chief Rich Benton.

The fire started in the dryer, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether it was due to a lint buildup or a mechanical malfunction, Benton said. The fire spread to some boxes surrounding the dryer in the home’s basement, he said.

The fire caused $15,000 damage to the home and $5,000 to its contents, Benton said.

At least one person who lives in the home, a single-story ranch-style home, stayed with family for the night, Benton said. It wasn’t clear from the report how many people lived in the home, according to Benton.

View Larger Map

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.