A fire service is warning of the risk of fires breaking out in towels and linen that have absorbed essential oils.
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service has put out the warning following a number of fires in launderettes, salons and homes, including one at a beauty therapy room in Swindon College which was badly damaged in a blaze.
“We’ve seen fires in tumble dryers, linen baskets and airing cupboards where towels that have had oil on them have caught alight,” explained technical fire safety group manager, Julian Parsons. “The problem only seems to arise when the wash cycle has been at a cool heat. It is now common to have washes at lower temperatures – sometimes as low as 15°C. When the wash has been at 40°C or above, the oil residue is more likely to be safely broken down by the washing detergents.”
He added: “At lower temperatures, the oil isn’t removed from the fabric. When the material is then heated in the tumble dryer, the residue can self-combust either in the dryer or when the linen is stacked.”
