Posted Sunday, February 11, 2012 --- 6:45 a.m.

From the Janesville Fire Department:

The Janesville Fire Department was dispatched around 2:00 a.m. for the report of a structure fire at 3315 S. Hwy 51 Lot 45 (Jacobs Mobile Home Park). Units arrived on scene to find a one story single family mobile home with moderately heavy smoke coming from the East side entrance door and from underneath the structure. No flames were immediately visible. The two adult occupants had evacuated prior to the department arrival. Fire crews extinguished fire underneath the structure and inside the structure in the area of the clothes dryer.

Owner/occupants Michael Abbott and Christine Green stated they had a problem with the dryer about 10:00 PM this past evening. Mr. Abbott reported that they had been using the clothes dryer and it began to make a popping sound, then filled the home with smoke. A small fire was extinguished with a fire extinguisher at that time. He had shut off the power to the dryer and used a fire extinguisher on the flooring near the dryer.

Mr. Abbott and Ms. Green then went over to a neighbors home to spend the night due to the smoke smell in their home. At about 02:00, Mr Abbott woke up and went outside to smoke a cigarette and noticed a significant amount smoke was coming from his home. He then called 911.

The fire investigation reveals that the wiring leading to the dryer had shorted out or over-heated causing the fire. The home is assessed at $8,000 and believed to be a total loss. An additional estimated $2500 worth of contents was also lost in the fire.

The Red Cross was notified and will be working with the family to meet their immediate needs. The family did have insurance on the property.

Assistance was received from the Town of Beloit fire department with a water tender at the fire.

Fire crews remained on scene approximately 1 3/4 hours. No injuries were reported to firefighters or the family members.