London Spa Fire Sparks Mass Evacuation
A small blaze in a basement corridor forced around 700 people to flee a London building. The fire started in stacked towels before firefighters arrived. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
Self-Heated Towels Blamed for Fire
The cause? Self-heating towels in the spa area. The London Fire Brigade warned this type of fire often involves textiles soaked in oils like linseed, massage, or cooking oil.
“These fires frequently involve contaminated textiles such as tea towels, tablecloths, and chef whites,” said a Fire Brigade spokesperson. “Always check manufacturer cleaning advice before washing.”
Heat Buildup in Dryers Can Spark Flames
Problems arise when these oily textiles are tumble dried. The heat can’t always escape, causing smouldering and ignition.
“When drying on a hot cycle, always use the cooling cycle afterward,” the spokesperson advised. “This lets heat dissipate safely before stacking laundry.”
Fire Brigade Responds Swiftly
The London Fire Brigade was called at 6.37pm. Firefighters from Dowgate, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, and Soho stations tackled the fire, putting it out by 7.35pm.
