A dryer caught fire just before 11 p.m. Wednesday at Coin Laundry off Old Mill Road.

The call, which was dispatched at 467 Old Mill Road at 10:46 p.m., was contained to the one business in the strip mall.

Cartersville Fire Department Battalion Chief Ray King said a bartender from Tom's Place called 911 after patrons smelled smoke. The business was evacuated as a precaution.

King said a commercial dryer in the rear of the building caught fire, burning clothes that were inside. He said the cause was undetermined, but it was not electrical or arson.

The business suffered light damage, most in the ceiling area. No one was inside — Coin Laundry closes at 9 p.m. — and no injuries were reported.

King said an investigation would be completed.

Also, a male, who was heard being loud and cursing at the scene, was arrested by Cartersville police, but no information was available at the scene.

CFD and Bartow County units worked a fire at an uninhabited mobile home at 81 Old Tennessee Road just before 8:15 p.m. Wednesday.

No one was inside the structure and no injuries were reported. A neighbor, who called 911 and asked to remain anonymous, stated there was no apparent cause and no electricity was wired to the building. She also said she believes the blaze was set intentionally.

Firefighters from both the county and city of Cartersville responded to the scene, which was quickly extinguished shortly after their arrival. No cause has been determined at this time, and the home is considered to be a total loss.

Stranger enters home, beats woman

Wednesday morning just after 1, a woman was disturbed by a knock on her front door.

Upon answering, the woman stated a mixed ethnicity male asked to use the phone because his vehicle ran out of gas. The woman left the glass storm door unlocked while the man stood on the porch. As she retreated to get a phone, the man entered the house and allegedly began physically assaulting her, striking her several times in the head and face, as well as kicking her ribs.

The victim said the man demanded money, but after she called for her mother, who lives downstairs, to “come up stairs and bring your gun,” the suspect ran out of the house.

The man’s identity remains unknown.

Truck stolen from highway

Tuesday afternoon a man stated that his vehicle was left on the side of the highway near the intersection of Joe Frank Harris Parkway and South Bridge Drive. The victim said he parked the Dodge Ram truck on the side of the roadway and left for help. When he returned, the vehicle was gone.

All local wrecker services were contacted with negative results. The truck is described as a Dodge Ram truck three-quarter ton, green/beige 1997 model.