Monday's fire at Smitty’s was an accident.
The Dauphin Fire Department says the fire started in the laundry area in the building's basement.
Earlier in the day, staff had removed some cloths and aprons from the dryer and placed them on top of the unit.
The DFD warns that when flammable liquids like cooking oil, deep fryer oil or cleaning fluids are soaked up by a rag, heat develops.
If the heat doesn’t dissipate by spreading the rags out, there is the potential for spontaneous ignition. That was the cause of this particular fire.
The department reminds everyone that any combustible materials should be kept clear of clothes dryers as they do produce significant heat.
