Home repair season has just begun in Cleveland Heights and we have already had three fires in buildings related to the improper disposal of the oily rags used in applying certain oil-based products.  In a recent example of one of these fires, the cause was neglecting to empty the floor sander bag that contained the sawdust of a freshly stained floor that was sanded off at the request of the home owner.

• If an oil base stain is recently used (up to 30 days) prior to the product to be sanded off due to applying a different stain, this mixture of sawdust and stain can still spontaneous combust and ignite in the floor sander or in garbage bags. We recommend emptying the sander bags thoroughly and disposing of material properly, outside of the house and garage.
• Rags, clothing and bags with these oil-based products, when drying, can produce their own heat through an exothermic chemical reaction. When rags and such are waded into a ball or thrown into a garbage bin or thrown onto combustibles (debris, garbage, wood shavings, sawdust) they can get hot enough to catch fire – without a spark or external heat source.

The most common type of spontaneous combustion fires are those caused by improperly disposing of oil and stain soaked rags and brushes.   Examples of these products are oil-based paints, stains, teak and linseed oils, varnishes, polyurethane, paint thinners, massage oils, etc.  

Prevention of these spontaneous combustion fires starts with keeping a clean work area and understanding the potential for rags soiled with these oils listed above self-heating.

One manufacturer advises: “Rags, steel wool or other waste soaked with this product may spontaneously catch fire if improperly discarded. Immediately after use, place rags, steel wool or waste in a sealed, water filled metal container.  

Another way to avoid accidental spontaneous combustion fires is to:

• Remove the rags and such outside and lay flat outside and away from anything that can catch on fire.
• Place a stone on the rags so they don’t blow away.
• Let the rags dry out completely over a few days.
• Once the rags are dry and no longer have a strong odor, place them in a trash container outside and away from the house.

Always follow the listed safety/danger guidelines on the product labels on the can and your project will turn out just like you imagined.   Please read the entire product labels so that you avoid any dangerous situations. 

The above listed products that we have had these associated fires with are all good products. In all cases of fire losses, it was the improper disposal of the materials used to apply these products. 

Pass this safety information on to any of your family and friends that are in the market for this type of a project or have them call the Cleveland Heights Fire Inspector at 216-291-2973 for guidance.