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Two recent fires caused by spontaneous combustion Wednesday Apr 25, 2018 at 3:02 PM Apr 25, 2018 at 5:28 PM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil Over the past month, Medford Fire-Rescue has responded to two structure fires that were sparked by spontaneous combustion. The first, a building fire at 209 W. Main St., was likely sparked by an oily rag that generated its own heat. The second, which occurred Sunday at a house on North Columbus Avenue, began in a garbage can, likely fueled by materials such as oily rags and oil-sopped pizza boxes. “Actually, they’re pretty common,” said Fire Marshal Greg Kleinberg. “We have several every year in our jurisdiction.” Both fires caused minimal damage — a destroyed desk and some smoke damage at the former, a damaged trash can and a partially scorched wall at the latter. But fire officials said people need to be aware of materials and chemicals that can lead to out-of-nowhere combustion, especially with the sudden recent onset of summer-like weather. “When the material is warmer, it’s easier to start the chemical reaction,” Kleinberg said. Spontaneous combustion or self-heating can kickstart because of biological processes in organic materials such as hay, or through a process called slow oxidation, where chemicals exposed to air can produce heat, according to the Firehouse website. Materials that are the most likely to combust include biological materials such as compost piles, hay bales, grass clippings and wood chips. Cotton fabrics soiled by oil are also highly susceptible, even if the oil was cleaned before being thrown in the clothes dryer. “You can launder that over and over again with detergent and it can still happen,” Kleinberg said. Between 2000 and 2015, Medford Fire-Rescue responded to 39 such fires, according to data provided by Kleinberg. The majority — 23 — were sparked by oily rags. Laundry piles started six, organic material piles sparked seven, with a single blaze sparked by a pair of rubber gloves, and four more in the “other” category. The fires caused a cumulative $476,250 in damages, Kleinberg said. There are ways to reduce the risk, Kleinberg said. Oily rags should be doused in water before disposal, Kleinberg said. Putting those rags in a metal container with no air flow can also help. “It basically deprives anything of oxygen,” Kleinberg said. Proper moisture control can assist with reducing the risk of self heating in hay and other agriculture products, with regular temperature checks. Reach web editor Ryan Pfeil at [email protected] or at 541-776-4468.