THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The cause of a fire which damaged a Park Row home on the evening of Friday, March 14 has been determined to be the result of the spontaneous combustion of improperly discarded oily rags, an investigation has determined.
Fire Chief John Hay reinforced the importance of following the manufacturer’s instructions when discarding rags soaked in oils such as Linseed and Tung Oil.
“Anyone who uses these products must ensure that they take the appropriate care when disposing of the oil-soaked rags,” said Chief Hay. “While disposal information varies depending on the product, it is common to advise users to dispose of the oil-soaked material by placing it in a sealed water-filled metal container.”
Damage to the home has been estimated at $50,000. No one was home at the time of the fire and no one was injured during the extinguishing of the blaze.