Denver Family Displaced After Dryer Fire Reignites and Spreads to Home
A Denver family of seven and their pets have been forced out of their home after a dryer fire reignited, spreading through their house on Monday afternoon in the Virginia Village neighborhood.
Dryer Fire Initially Contained, Then Rekindles
The fire first broke out when the family’s clothes dryer caught fire near Jewell Avenue and Fairfax Street.
“My middle sister smelled smoke and called us downstairs,” said Alexis Cox, a resident of the home. “At first, I thought she was joking, but when we checked, we saw the duct on the back of the dryer was on fire.”
The family extinguished the flames, only to find the dryer’s instruction manual had caught fire inside the tubing.
After ensuring the fire was out, Cox’s mother, Dawn Smith, moved the dryer outside, placing it in the sand to prevent further risk.
However, strong winds later reignited the smoldering debris, and around 1 p.m., passersby knocked on the family’s door, alerting them that their house was on fire.
Firefighters Respond, Family and Pets Escape Safely
The Denver Fire Department quickly arrived, knocking down fences to reach the home and extinguishing the flames before further damage occurred.
“The firemen were incredible,” Cox said. “It was a terrifying experience—definitely not on our bingo card for 2025.”
The family was able to evacuate safely with their two young children and two large dogs. Their cat, trapped in the basement during the fire, was later found safe.
Smith expressed guilt over moving the dryer outside, though she is relieved everyone survived.
“As a grandmother, I feel responsible because I brought it out there,” she said. “But we’re fine, and that’s what I keep reminding myself. The kindness of strangers—from people bringing our dogs water to the firefighters—was overwhelming.”
Family Seeks Temporary Housing, Warns Others About Dryer Safety
The family is currently staying in a hotel while searching for temporary housing and awaiting repairs to their home.
They have set up a GoFundMe to assist with expenses.
Cox, who works as a first responder, emphasized how fortunate they were.
“Seeing tragedies in the emergency department daily, I know this could have been much worse. The fact that we are all safe is what’s keeping me from completely losing it.”
The family is urging others to regularly check and clean their dryers to prevent similar fires.
