Trending Topics

‘Spontaneous combustion of tortilla chips’ plagues Texas factory

The factory was reportedly trying a new food waste system, but the large cardboard boxes kept outside the factory kept igniting

37302651_1891189384281858_975546811345272832_o.jpg

The factory was reportedly trying a new food waste system, but the large cardboard boxes kept outside the factory kept igniting.

Photo/Austin Fire Department Facebook

Sara Coello
The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN — Austin firefighters rushed to a factory twice in one week to put out blazes caused by “spontaneous combustion of tortilla chips,” they said.

The factory was reportedly trying a new food waste system, but the large cardboard boxes kept outside the factory kept igniting even once firefighters arrived on scene.

After the second fire on July 15, firefighters drowned the remaining chips, according to a department Facebook post.

“The solution? The A- and B-shift crews from Engine 35 who were getting off/coming on that day drowned all of the other crates that had yet to burn, thereby eliminating the risk completely,” the department wrote.

https://www.facebook.com/AustinFireDepartment/posts/1891192827614847

———

©2018 The Dallas Morning News