Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1918 — Cause of Spontaneous Combustion. [ARTICLE]

Cause of Spontaneous Combustion.

Spontaneous combustion is caused, chemists tell us, by floating particles of coal dust or other inflammable material jostling and clashing against one another until the friction they set up raises their temperature to the ignition point. If this explanation is correct, it would appear as if such fires could be prevented by perfect ventilation. Such, however; is not the case, for ventilation may actually help to bring about fire by spontaneous combustion. Air facilitates oxidation, really fanning the warm dust into a blaze. Keep air damp and quiet to avoid fire. —Popular Science Monthly.