TOPEKA, Kansas - Fire at a Topeka home serves as an important reminder to keep working smoke detectors in your home.

Shawnee Heights Fire Department was called to a residence in the Montara neighborhood of Topeka about 7:00 a.m. Thursday.

The family wasn't home at the time, but battalion fire chief, Tom Kilmartin, says a neighbor heard the smoke alarm go off and called 911. Crews were able to quickly put the fire out before it spread through the house.

Kilmartin says the alarm could be what saved the home. "It's very important to have your smoke alarms functioning."

Officials say the fire was contained to a basement dryer. They pulled the charred dryer from the home. It still had clothes inside. Kilmartin said officials are investigating what ignited the fire in that dryer.