Spontaneous Combustion Can Cause Fires
While spontaneous combustion isn't a common occurrence, it can be disastrous. Spontaneous combustion causes major fire losses each year. One of the most common scenarios is when floors or woodwork are being refinished and stain-soaked rags are left in a heap on the floor. Something as simple as not storing these rags properly can cause major fire damage.
In fact, the way combustible materials are stored has a lot to do with whether or not they'll spontaneously
combust. For example, while an oil-soaked rag stored in a pail could heat up enough to burst into flames, the same oily rag laid flat to dry would probably have sufficient airflow to prevent heat buildup. Similarly, if the oily
rag was placed in a tightly sealed jar, it most likely would not have sufficient air to allow the oxidation process
to occur. That's why it's a good idea to look around your garage, storage shed, and yard on a regular basis to
ensure that all flammable materials are properly stored.
How spontaneous combustion occurs
1. A substance with a relatively low ignition temperature begins to release heat, which may occur in several ways, such as oxidation or fermentation.
2. The heat is unable to escape, and the temperature of the material rises
3. The temperature of the material rises above its ignition point
4. Combustion begins, if a sufficiently strong oxidizer, such as oxygen, is present.
