Janesville Fire Department Responds to Friday Incident

According to a press release from the Janesville Fire Department, on Friday shortly after 5 p.m. they were dispatched to a residential fire with smoke and flames visible in the basement in a single story duplex on Hawthorne Ave. First arriving crews were met by the occupant who reported that the fire was in the basement on the east side of the duplex. A hose line was advanced to the basement, and the fire was located in the laundry area. The fire was quickly extinguished and confined to the laundry area of the basement. The cause of the fire appears to be a clothes dryer that was in use at the time of the fire. The fire spread from the clothes dryer to the wall behind the dryer and ceiling of the laundry area. The occupants of the home, which included 1 adult female and 1 male child, were able to escape without injury. A total of four cats were located by firefighters and removed from the home unharmed. No injuries were reported. The occupants are being assisted by the American Red Cross.