Fire Department

A small fire caused approximately $60,000 worth of damage to a west side home, mainly due to extensive smoke damage, but nobody was displaced or injured.

A homeowner on Shefford Circle says he was working on some projects in the basement Sunday before taking his dog for a walk. Upon returning home, he found smoke on the first floor of the house. He went around to check the back of the house, and that's where he found dark, heavy smoke.

Firefighters were on scene within five minutes of receiving the dispatch. Engine Company 7 arrived to find gray smoke banking a foot above the first floor. Crews accessed the basement and, equipped with an attack line, quickly extinguished two small fires discovered there.  

The homeowner states he was using linseed oil on some woodworking and staining projects and tossed the used rags into a plastic trash bag when he was finished. Although spontaneous combustion of oily rags is a known cause of some fires, the specific cause of this fire is undetermined due to the presence of improperly discarded cigarettes in the room of origin.
 
Proper Disposal Of Oily Rags:
To prevent spontaneous combustion of rags used for staining, painting, and other similar projects, lay the rags flat outside and let them dry completely before discarding. Never leave rags in a pile.

When disposing of the rags, place them in a metal container and cover tightly with a lid. You can fill the container with a water and detergent solution that will help break down the oils.

Keep the container in a cool place out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. For your safety, do not keep the metal container in your home or garage.