By Amy Renee Leiker
Wichita Eagle – November 24, 2013
A basket of clothing that ignited is being blamed for a fire that led to $30,000 in estimated damage to a south Wichita laundry and dry cleaning business, a Wichita Fire Department official said Saturday.
Fire crews fought black smoke pouring from the door of Lee’s Cleaners, 1110 W. 31st St. South, after they arrived at the strip mall that houses the business around 1:45 p.m. Saturday. No flames were visible from the exterior of the building, but Acting Battalion Chief David Voss said those inside the neighboring Cricket Wireless store were evacuated as a precaution. About nine fire vehicles responded.
Investigators blamed the fire on the “spontaneous combustion” of clothing, Voss said; the flames were contained to the business’ interior. Roughly $20,000 worth of dryers and other electronics were damaged by smoke and flames, while the building sustained about $10,000 in damage, he said.
No one was hurt. Fire crews were rolling up hoses and packing away gear so they could leave the scene about an hour after the fire was reported.
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