Spontaneous Combustion of Rags

4/13/2019 (Permalink)

Spontaneous Combustion can cause serious fires if not attended to.

Have you ever heard of something catching fire out of the blue without being exposed to an open flame? Believe it or not, this can actually happen. It’s called a spontaneous combustion fire.

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In these cases, oil-soaked rags can slowly heat to their ignition point through a process called oxidation. The products that are at risk include oil-based paints and stains, teak oils, varnishes, paint thinners, etc. Heat will begin to release from the rags; however, if the heat cannot escape, the temperature will increase to a level high enough to ignite.

It can Happen to Anyone

SERVPRO of Black Hawk County has responded to several calls where the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. The true danger is if the fire starts while you are away from your home. Damage can happen all too quickly when time is on a fire’s side.

Disposal

We encourage you to properly dispose of your rags after exposed to oily substances. The best method is to place the rags in a metal trashcan with a tightly fitted lid on top. You can then fill the remaining space in the trashcan with water to prevent the rags from heating up. However, this is a temporary solution. The long-term answer is to wash the rags in a hot cycle as soon as possible.

Hopefully, you will never experience such an occurrence, but if there is a necessity for clean up after a fire, know that SERVPRO of Black Hawk County can assist you!

Additional Source: https://www.bendoregon.gov/