Spontaneous Combustion of Oil-Soaked Rags Starts Fire at Franklin Construction Site
A police officer discovered the blaze before the unmonitored alarm system could alert the fire department, limiting damage at the Carter House Visitor Center.
By Alina Campbell ·
Linseed oil-soaked rags ignited on their own at a construction site in Franklin on Tuesday morning, according to fire officials.
The Franklin Fire Department responded to the Carter House Visitor Center construction site at 3:24 a.m. Tuesday after receiving reports of a fire. The building is currently under construction, which left its fire alarm system unmonitored at the time of the incident.
Fire Marshal Andy King said a Franklin police officer noticed the alarm sounding while driving through the area. The officer stopped to investigate the noise and found the fire inside the structure. King stated that the officer’s quick action allowed for a prompt response to a fire that could have caused substantial damage to the site.
Crews arrived shortly after the report and quickly extinguished the flames. The rapid containment effort kept the damage to the building minimal. The fire department determined that the cause was the spontaneous combustion of linseed oil-soaked rags that had been discarded in a trash can.
King explained the chemical process behind the ignition. He noted that as the oil dried, it generated heat. That heat became trapped inside the rags, which eventually caused them to ignite without any external spark or flame.
The oil and rags were part of a project to stain bookcases and interior trim at the visitor center. The Franklin Fire Department issued a reminder to local contractors and residents about the hazard. The department advised that linseed oil-soaked rags can spontaneously combust when improperly discarded. This risk is higher when the rags are piled together or placed in a trash can.
