A midafternoon house fire at 1330 New Castle St. in Savannah on Monday afternoon displaced one adult and four children.
The children ranged from ages 5 to 14, and the home suffered major damage in the kitchen area, said Robin Wingate, executive director of the American Red Cross Southeast Georgia chapter.
Wingate said that the family did not have insurance, and volunteers meet emergency needs by providing them with funding for food and temporary shelter.
Savannah Fire & Emergency Services spokesman Mark Keller said the fire started in the home’s dryer. The fire burned a portion of the rear of the house, and power had to be cut. Firefighters were able to get the incident under control quickly, he said.
Savannah Fire reminds residents to be mindful of cleaning lent traps in dryers. Keller said it’s also important to clear ventilation tubing a few times a year and ensure that appliances are in working order. Those using gas dryers, he said, should make sure no combustible materials are near the appliance.