Did you know spontaneous combustion is a real thing? It is, and most occurrences are in the fall of the year.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an estimated 14,070 fires occur each year due to spontaneous combustion.
It could be a pile of dirty rags bursting into flames in someone's garage, or from hay bales stored in a farmer's field, or a flame erupting from a city's compost pile...these are just a few examples of spontaneous combustion fires: blazes started without the introduction of an outside flame source.
Towels or rags that are soaked with oils; warm or hot laundry left in a pile; large leaf, mulch, compost, and manure piles; and moist baled hay can all spontaneously combust under the right conditions.
Avoid these types of fires by following these simple suggestions:
Store piles of leaves, compost, hay, manure and mulch well away from buildings. It is suggested that you keep the piles in smaller, more manageable sizes.
If your business uses large amounts of oily rags, be sure to discard them into an OSHA-approved container and have them picked up by an industrial cleaning company.
If that's not an immediate option, you may spread (and anchor with rocks) the rags into a single layer out of sunlight on concrete to prevent a heated pile situation.
If baling hay, it should be completely dry before beginning the process and before moving to a storage area. Also be sure the storage area is well ventilated.
If you notice hay bales, leaf, mulch, compost, or manure piles emitting smoke, call 911, as spreading the material may introduce more oxygen and cause a fire to erupt. Firefighters know how to properly deal with this situation.
When your home or business is affected by fire, not only is it a severe loss, but the next step requires finding proper guidance and support to save as much as possible after the fire and smoke damage has occurred. West Tennessee Restoration's techs are certified professionals whose primary goal is to get you back into your home or business ASAP, while advising and informing you during the process. We're here to help, at (731) 660-9090.