Fire Cause Determined at Wichita Falls Cleaners

Investigators traced a September 14 blaze to heat buildup in a bag of rags at a local business.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Home Cleaning

A close-up of a bundle of cleaning rags on a metal workbench in a dimly lit utility room. — Fire investigators in Wichita Falls determined that a September 14 blaze at Pressed Cleaners was sparked by heat buildup within stored cleaning materials. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Fire investigators concluded that a September 14 fire at Pressed Cleaners in Wichita Falls was caused by heat buildup in a bag of rags. The fire, which began at 11 p.m. in the 3700 block of Fairway Boulevard, caused $40,000 in damage to the cleaning facility.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the risk of chemical decomposition and pyrolysis when cleaning materials contaminated with grease or chemical residues are improperly stored. The fire also caused $7,500 in damages to an adjacent Subway restaurant.

The fire caused $40,000 in damages to Pressed Cleaners and $7,500 in damages to a neighboring Subway. Emergency responders extinguished the blaze in 15 minutes.

The players

Pressed Cleaners

This is the business where the fire originated and which remains closed to the public.

Subway

This is an adjacent restaurant that sustained damage as a result of the fire.

The details

The fire started in the break room and workstation of Pressed Cleaners due to pyrolysis, a process where heat builds up in materials without an open flame. While Pressed Cleaners remains shuttered, the business currently operates through its drive-through window.

September 14, 2026: The fire occurred at Pressed Cleaners.
11 p.m.: Emergency crews were dispatched to the fire on Fairway Boulevard.

Culture Shift

This incident underscores the importance of adhering to fire safety standards in retail environments to prevent spontaneous combustion. It follows a pattern set by the National Fire Protection Association guidelines on oily rag storage regarding the safe disposal of combustible materials.

Residents in the area should ensure that rags used for cleaning are stored in approved, ventilated containers to prevent heat buildup. Customers of the local Pressed Cleaners should note that the main building remains closed, though the drive-through remains available.

The takeaway

Business owners and homeowners alike must be vigilant about storing oily or chemically soaked rags away from heat sources. Properly ventilated metal containers are essential for preventing the dangerous chemical decomposition that leads to spontaneous fire.