East Lyme — A dryer fire caused serious smoke damage to a home here Sunday afternoon.

The home on 240 Upper Pattagansett Road is owned by Tim Dwyer, The Day's publisher.

Dwyer said he, his wife, son and dog got out of the house safely after his wife alerted him of smoke in the laundry room where he saw a fire in the dryer and called 911.

"I just want to thank the fire departments for being here and locking the fire down," Dwyer said.

Chris Taylor, chief of the Flanders Fire Department, said the call came in around 12:30 p.m. and multiple fire departments responded.

"The guys did a good job knocking the fire down, doing extensive overhaul and getting smoke out," Taylor said.

Taylor said the fire started in the laundry room on the second floor and caused smoke damage throughout the house. He said the fire marshal will investigate the cause of the fire. He added the family would be displaced and the American Red Cross was assisting the family.