I came across this article on MSN Real Estate.  They’ve got some good pointers to prevent the kind of damage that can really get out of hand.

In the bonus tips they mention making sure your dryer vents are kept clean of lint buildup.  According to the article, dryers account for 15,000 fires every year, often caused by lint buildup in the ducts that vent to the outside.

This one caught my eye, as we’ve had first hand experience with how much fun a dryer fire can be.

After carefully considering the pro and cons I advise against having a fire of your own.  There was even more smoke than fire, so it really didn’t tap into the pyro thrill, and while it was great to meet so many new people (a claims adjuster, fire cleanup crew, carpet installer, painter, repairman, specialty clothes cleaner, firemen, medic), next time I think I’ll skip the fire and just invite them over for a party.