Kitchen Fire Damages Salisbury Home; Cause Ruled Accidental Due to Spontaneous Combustion of Oil Soaked Rags

Salisbury, MD - A house fire broke out early Monday morning in Salisbury, Maryland causing an estimated $25,000 in damage to the structure.

The fire was reported at 7:47 a.m. in the 300 block of Glendale Drive in Salisbury, Maryland.

Crews from the Salisbury Fire Department responded to find a one-story, wood frame, single-family home was involved in the fire.

Fire officials say the fire started in the kitchen. The preliminary cause is accidental, sparked by spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags.

This is a good reminder for homeowners about how quickly oil-soaked rags can ignite on their own, especially when left bunched up or stored in a pile. Experts recommend laying them flat to dry outdoors or storing them in a sealed metal container away from other materials.

Fifteen firefighters responded to the scene as part of a one-alarm response.