Dryer fire at popular Dunedin restaurant quickly contained

DUNEDIN — A small dryer fire at a popular downtown eatery was quickly brought under control early Monday morning.

The Dunedin Fire Department was called to Kelly's restaurant at 319 Main Street about 5:45 a.m. after an employee found smoke in a second floor storage room.

Firefighters determined that a clogged dryer vent caused towels to catch on fire.

The fire was quickly contained. Damages were estimated at $700.

The dryer was removed from the building and smoke ejector fans were used to air out the building.

The restaurant opened about a half hour late, said manager Bob Moore.

No one was injured.

"Thank goodness. It could have been worse" Moore said.

It was the second small fire at the business in less than two years. In January 2009, about a half-dozen of patrons were evacuated during a minor electrical fire that started in the air handler on the second floor.