Improperly Disposed Oily Rags Cause $80K Garage Fire In Lovettsville, Investigators Say

Improperly disposed rags in a Loudoun County garage led to a large fire that caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage when they spontaneously combusted, officials confirmed.

On Sunday night, multiple agencies in Virginia and Maryland were called to a reported garage fire in the 13300 block of Downey Mill Road in Lovettsville, where there was a reported blaze that broke out.

First responders were met by an active fire on the exterior of the garage, though firefighters were able to contain the flames before they spreading to the inside of the structure.

It then took fire and rescue personnel worked for approximately 30 minutes to complete overhaul operations and extinguish hotspots.

Investigators say that the fire was determined to be accidental in nature due to the spontaneous combustion of improperly discarded oily rags.

Crews from Lovettsville, Lucketts, Purcellville, Hamilton, Loudoun and Frederick counties were all called to help fight the fire.

The fire caused an estimated $80,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.

"Community members are reminded to properly dispose of all combustible materials," officials stated. "All oil-soaked rags and brushes should be disposed of in a sealed, air-tight container to decrease concerns related to spontaneous heating.

"Never pile rags, brushes, or rollers together, rather lay them flat on an exterior surface and allow them to completely dry before disposing through normal means."

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