Cedar Rapids Fire Department responds to weekend laundromat fire

CEDAR RAPIDS - A weekend laundromat fire has been attributed to the spontaneous heating of aprons and rags likely containing animal fats.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department was called to Soapy Waters Laundromat, 808 Sixth St. SW, at 12:55 p.m. Saturday for a dryer fire. Responding crews encountered a single dryer filled with smoke and smoke inside the building.

Investigators found the dryer contained aprons and rags from a local restaurant that were used to wipe down surfaces that likely contained animal fats, according to the fire department. Animals fats are susceptible to spontaneous combustion, the fire department said.

The fire department recommends aprons, rags and towels containing animal fats or other substances - such as grease - be placed in a metal container with a lid. Detergent might not remove all of the fats or oils, the fire department said. Those materials should not be dried at too high a temperature to decrease the likelihood of spontaneous combustion.

The dryer sustained minimal damage and no injuries were reported.