Report: Clean rags 'spontaneously' combust, nearly burn down local bar

CHEHALIS -- A stack of washed rags spontaneously combusted inside a wood cabinet, nearly burning down a popular Chehalis bar early Wednesday morning, Lewis County Sirens reports. 

According to Sirens, employees closing Sabra's Place in the 300 block of Northwest Chehalis Avenue around 12 a.m. Wednesday noticed a burning smell coming from somewhere in the restaurant. Unable to find the source, employees walked to the nearby Chehalis Fire Station and reported the strange odor.

Fire crews followed employees back to the restaurant. They searched the entire area, including the Air Conditioning unit, Sirens reports, but could not find the source. Finally, someone opened a wooden cabinet and noticed smoke coming from a stack of towels and rags. Fire investigators took the rags outside, and found heavy charring on the insides and the middle.

"So, they were actually spontaneously combusting," Fire Investigator Ted McCarty told Sirens.

Employees said the rags and towels had been previously used to wipe up oil and chemicals, but had since been washed. Firefighters told restaurant workers that even after rags are laundered, they are at risk for catching on fire, especially as the weather outside remains hot.

Fire investigators encouraged Sabra's Place employees to store the rags in something metal with a heavy lid on it.