Manion Adcock cradles his cat, Butters, after a clothes dryer caught fire in the back of his East Limestone home late Tuesday night. Adcock, his wife Rachel Lewis, and their 7-month-old daughter escaped the laundry room blaze without injury.

Within the past few months, structure fires have destroyed homes in the Owens and Elkmont communities. But an East Limestone family escaped a late-night blaze Tuesday that charred the laundry room and blanketed the remaining portions of their residence with moderate to heavy smoke damage.

Manion Adcock, his wife Rachel Lewis and their 7-month-old daughter were awakened at about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday when their clothes dryer apparently caught fire and covered the laundry room in flames.

Volunteer firefighters from Piney Chapel and East Limestone — including Athens Fire and Rescue Chief Tony Kirk — responded to the scene minutes after Lewis reported the fire at 11:56 p.m., according to scanner reports.

Within 15 minutes, the flames were put out before they could spread to the adjacent bedroom and kitchen, but, on appearance, the dryer was a total loss and the laundry room was ruined.

The house at 15361 Hastings Road is owned by Adcock’s parents, Danny and Kay Adcock. Manion Adcock said he has lived in the vinyl-sided, one-bedroom home for the past four years.

While waiting for the firefighters to finish an inspection, Kay Adcock said she was relieved no one was hurt.

“I’m just glad everyone is OK,” she said.

Manion Adcock was covered in soot and wearing a headlamp as he attempted to reduce the flames with a steady spray from his garden hose until firefighters arrived on the scene.

The family cat, Butters, remained in the home during the fire and was hiding underneath a desk drawer until Manion Adcock found the unharmed but ruffled feline.