A fire broke out in a two-story home at 805 NW Fisk Street early Thursday morning, said Pullman police officers. The six WSU students in the home were awakened by the smoke.

Shortly before 1 a.m. and immediately after the Whitcom was alerted by a cell phone call, Pullman firefighters responded to the fire. The Whitman County Rural District 12 accompanied them.

The fire resulted from a short in the motor of an upstairs clothes dryer. Fire prevention officer Rich Dragoo said the short ignited the clothes in the dryer with sparks. The flames then spread to the walls the attic.

Smoke was coming from the residence when firefighters arrived, but flames were not immediately visible.

The six WSU students who lived in the house divided the living quarters into a basement and an upper apartment. The smoke awoke them, they said, but fire alarms were not heard.

Dragoo said investigators found two smoke detectors, but both had no batteries. One of them was set atop a shelf.

“They were very lucky that they were awakened by the smoke,” said Fire Chief Mike Heston.

Working smoke detectors are the best early warning system available for any home, he said.

The students told officials that they had friends they could stay with until the house is repaired, but WSU housing said that they would help the students find a place to stay.

There is at least $30,000 in damage to the contents and $130,000 to the house, Dragoo said. There is extensive interior damage, and the roof the support beams will have to be replaced.