Missouri Hotel Fire Blamed On Spontaneous Combustion

Aug. 13, 2004
Kansas City officials say a fire Tuesday at a Best Western hotel started when a pile of oily rags spontaneously burst into flames.

Kansas City officials say a fire Tuesday at a Best Western hotel started when a pile of oily rags spontaneously burst into flames.

Fire Marshal Greg Vincent said spontaneous combustion can occur when certain oils break down and generate heat. The kitchen fire caused $10,000 in damage to the hotel at U.S. 71 and Longview Road in south Kansas City.

City prosecutors were determining whether any codes were violated when the hotel's fire alarms failed to sound, Vincent said. City codes state that fire alarms must sound and that hotel employees must be trained to sound the alarms, he said.

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