Exploding towels spark fire frenzy

A FIRE chief has issued a shock warning about “exploding tea towels”.

Fire commander Mark Rist says modern chemicals and cooking fats can cause a build up of heat in piles of laundry.

And he pressed the panic button after two incidents of the dangerous phenomenon in 24 hours.

The fire boss said blazes at Brighton College and the resort’s Terre a Terre restaurant were caused by “spontaneously combusting laundry”.

At Terre a Terre, a pile of tumble-dried towels left in the kitchen overnight suddenly burst into flames.

The blaze gutted the kitchen beyond repair.

At Brighton College’s blaze, it took six firemen to put out the flames.

Commander Rist said “We’d advise people to make sure laundry is well aired after drying to make sure this doesn’t happen.”