Fire result­s in $575,000 worth of damage­WASHINGTON DC: A series of freak fires at sushi restaurants in the United States (US) have been blamed on an unusual culprit: a deep-fried ingredient that, if not handled properly, spontaneously combusts. “Cooking oils, especially soybean oil and canola oil, are known to have a propensity to self-heat under certain circumstances,” the Midwestern city’s fire department said in a safety bulletin. These conditions can create an environment for a fire to occur,” the bulletin continued. The two fires in Madison caused at least $575,000 in damage, and investigators blame ‘crunch’ for at least five other blazes that they’re aware of. Seeking to forestall future infernos, the fire department recommended spreading the ingredient out on a flat surface like a baking sheet to keep it from catching fire.

Source: The Express Tribune July 17, 2019 07:30 UTC