Wood Finish, Rags Cause of Trash Fire Behind Church

Firefighters put out a fire believed to be caused by spontaneous combustion from wood finish-soaked rags. Source: The Mountain MailRags soaked with “wood finishing oil” were the likely cause of a trash fire that erupted behind Salida United Methodist Church in Salida, Colo., July 16, according to local firefighters.

The fire, which started in the evening hours Monday, was doused with a fire extinguisher and buckets of water by police and firefighters who arrived on the scene, The Mountain Mail reported.

The Salida fire captain, Bob Jefferson, said he believed the rags and a can of wood finishing oil indicated spontaneous combustion, the report stated.

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