Towels self-combust, causing fire at Hawthorn massage parlour - The Age

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The MFB is urging people with clothes driers to allow their washing to cool before storing it. Photo: Paul Jeffers


A pile of hot towels has self-combusted, causing a fire at a Hawthorn massage parlour overnight.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at Burwood Road parlour Sahara Snow just after midnight on Wednesday morning, after a passer-by noticed thick smoke coming from the property.

They initially had trouble accessing the rear of the two-storey building, but managed to bring the fire under control in 40 minutes. There were no occupants inside at the time.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade's Investigation Unit has confirmed that hot towels caused the blaze. The towels had been pulled from a drier and left in a pile, which caused them to self-combust.

With winter approaching, the MFB has urged Melburnians to take caution when using driers. Hot items should be left to to cool before being folded or stored away.

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