Biddeford Fire Department Hit by Towel Blaze

Spontaneous combustion of clean kitchen towels caused small fire at station.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A small fire broke out at the Biddeford, Maine fire department's central station in the early morning hours of February 7th. The fire was caused by a clean kitchen towel that had been recently washed and dried, which spontaneously combusted due to a buildup of kitchen oils and cleaning solvents. The fire activated the station's smoke detectors and alarm system, leading to an investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Why it matters

Spontaneous combustion of clean towels is an unusual but dangerous phenomenon that can occur in fire stations and other commercial kitchens. The incident highlights the importance of proper towel cleaning and storage procedures to prevent such fires, which can spread quickly and cause significant damage.

The details

According to fire officials, a Biddeford Fire Department member discovered the small fire inside a kitchen bin at the Central Fire Station. The fire activated the station's smoke detectors and alarm system, leading to an investigation. The State Fire Marshal's Office determined the cause was a clean kitchen towel that had been recently washed and dried, which spontaneously combusted due to a buildup of kitchen oils and cleaning solvents. Similar fires have occurred in the past under these circumstances.

  • The fire occurred in the early morning hours of February 7, 2026.
  • The clean towel had been removed from the dryer about an hour before the fire started.

The players

Biddeford Fire Department

The local fire department in Biddeford, Maine where the fire occurred.

State Fire Marshal's Office

The state agency that investigated the cause of the fire at the Biddeford Fire Department station.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Similar fires have occurred in this same manner with clean kitchen towels spontaneously combusting soon after cleaning due to the build-up of kitchen oils and cleaning solvents.”

— Biddeford Fire Chief (newscentermaine.com)

What’s next

The fire department is working with the city's insurance company to clean and restore the station to normal operations.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder for fire departments and commercial kitchens to be vigilant about proper towel cleaning and storage procedures to prevent the risk of spontaneous combustion, which can lead to dangerous fires.