'˜Spontaneous combustion' blamed for Christmas Eve fire at Brighton laundrette

Fire officers said a blaze in a Brighton laundrette on Christmas Eve was down to the '˜spontaneous combustion' of two bags of washing.
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Firefighters were called at 1.12am on Christmas Eve (December 24) to reports of smoke inside the laundrette on New England Road.

The crews put out the fire and cleared the smoke, and said the source of the fire was two bags of washing.

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East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: “Spontaneous combustion can occur when hot and moist laundry is stacked. Oil residue can start to selt heat and eventually catch alight.

“Businesses are urged to ensure they have appropriate fire safety measures in place as well as allowing laundry to cool before stacking.”