Dryer almost caught on fire!

I know they always say to never run your washer, dryer, dish washer, etc. when you aren't home....well make sure you don't!!! I usually don't, but there are always those times when you're running from place to place and trying to get laundry done at the same time. Fortunately I was home today. I was just finishing feeding Molly when all of a sudden I felt like I smelled smoke. So I poked my head down stairs and didn't see any flames but defintely more smoke. I go down and stop the dryer, and apparently a few bibs, washclothes, and burp clothes got stuck in the back. A few are completely charred. There was no actual fire it doesn't seem, but who knows how much longer until one started. Very scary. Thank goodness I did most of the laundry over the weekend. Looks like we are finally going to get that new dryer we need!