Courtesy of West Side Volunteer Fire Company
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the potential improper disposal of oily rags from linseed oil used as floor finish as the cause of a house fire on March 11 that caused $350,000 in damages.
The fire at the Quantico, Md., house was reported at 11:30 p.m. March 11 after the floors had recently been refinished with linseed oil.
“We’re not exactly sure how those linseed oil rags were disposed of, but linseed oil, as it dries, it can heat and then result in what people know of as spontaneous combustion,” Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Matt Stevens told WMDT.
West Side Volunteer Fire Company responded to the fire and got it under control before it could spread to the nearby field or other houses.
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