Dauphin Fire Department (DFD) was on the scene of a blaze last Wednesday, later determined to be suspicious in nature.
Shortly after 9 a.m., DFD was dispatched for a report of smoke coming from a residence north of the city along Hwy. 20.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed smoke coming from a window on the north side of the home. Upon entry to the structure, crews located a fire in the stairwell along the north wall, with several of the stairs already burned away.
This fire was initially extinguished, and additional firefighters had to gain access to the second floor from ladders in order to reach the fire extension.
As firefighters were working on the second floor, the roof began to fail due to the flames impacting the structural members of the roof.
This required firefighters to take a defensive position as the second floor was deemed to be unsafe due to the collapse.
Once the fire was under control, crews again entered the second floor to completely extinguish the blaze.
The department was able to clear the scene at approximately 3 p.m. once the fire was determined to be completely out. The ensuing investigation into the cause determined the fire to be suspicious in nature.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.
Friday morning, just before 10:30 a.m., DFD was dispatched to a report of smoke coming from a home on 3rd Avenue SW. Upon arriving on scene, crews found the RCMP had forced the front door open to allow the firefighters entry to the home.
The firefighters entered the home, which is under renovation, and quickly located the fire on the main floor. As the staircase to the second floor had been temporarily removed as a part of the renovation, crews accessed the upper portion of the home using a window as an access point.
Once all areas had been cleared and no further fire extension was possible, crews ventilated the building to remove the remaining smoke.
The investigation into the cause of the fire has determined it was an accidental fire. As part of the renovations, the owner had been using an oil based stain on wood for flooring and trim. The rags used had been discarded into a plastic pail after use. The rags spontaneously combusted and the flames spread to other construction materials that were piled nearby.
When oil-based stains dry, they create heat. If the rags that were used for the application of the stain are crumpled up, this heat gets trapped and can build until the rags spontaneously combust.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires caused by spontaneous combustion are a significant hazard. These fires often start hours after a project is finished, typically at night when no one is around, making them especially dangerous.
What not to do with oily rags:
Tossing them in a pile on the floor. This is the classic scenario for spontaneous combustion. The pile acts as an insulator, trapping all the heat produced by oxidation.
Throwing them in the trash can. A crumpled rag in a trash can, surrounded by other flammable materials like paper and sawdust, is a fire waiting to happen. It’s a perfect fuel package.
Putting them in a plastic bag. A plastic bag is even worse than a pile. It not only traps heat, but also melts, adding fuel to a potential fire. Never, ever do this.
Leaving them in your pocket. It sounds unbelievable, but people have suffered severe burns from oily rags combusting in their pockets hours after finishing a job.
Putting them in the washing machine or dryer. The oil residue will not wash out completely. Putting them in a dryer adds even more heat, dramatically increasing the fire risk. This can burn your house down.
Always properly dispose of them, or use only water based stains.