Trailer self-combusted on man’s property in small explosion

A parked trailer used for storage self-combusted on a man’s property in Nevada on Wednesday. 

The incident happened on August 13th just before 1 p.m. in Washoe County, near Reno, Nevada. 

According to News 4, the homeowner contacted police after he heard an explosion outside of his home. The man described the noise as sounding like a cannon went off, and said he went outside to find his trailer on fire. 

The Northern Nevada Consolidated Bomb Squad responded to the scene and determined that the small explosion had been caused by improperly stored rags covered in oil, which self-combusted in the August afternoon heat inside of the parked trailer. 

“The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office and Truckee Meadows Fire want to remind everyone that even cloth rags can ignite. As the oil oxidizes, heat is released. If the heat is not dissipated, it can build up and ignite the cloth. If such cloths are stored in anything airtight, as the pressure of the fire builds, it will explode,” officials said.

No injuries were reported. The man told officials he uses the trailer for the storage of miscellaneous items.