Crime & Safety
Littleton South Park Fire: Combusting Rags Started Blaze
The fire that destroyed two homes Friday in South Bemis Court was caused by rags self-combusting in 95-degree heat, investigators said.
LITTLETON, CO – Oily rags left in 90s temperatures self-combusted Friday in the Littleton fire that destroyed two houses and damaged a third, fire investigators said. Two firefighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion after the fire at 7951 and 7961 South Bemis Court in the South Park neighborhood.
"Rags that had been used to stain a deck were left in a container near one house and ignited in the 95-degree heat," a statement from Littleton Fire and Rescue said Monday.
After firefighters struck the first two fires, embers falling from the smoke plume ignited a shake shingle roof nine houses away at 7979 S. Bemis St. That house was not significantly damaged.
Find out what's happening in Littletonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fire scene #1 - 7951 and 7961 S Bemis Court - Fire is under control, major damage to 2 homes and a free flowing natural gas meter. No injuries reported and firefighters will be working on extinguishing hot spots. Cause is being investigated. pic.twitter.com/3Xo36FIK88
— Littleton Fire (@Littleton_Fire) June" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/Littleton_... 8, 2018
Image via Littleton Fire & Rescue
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