Rare Spontaneous Combustion Sparks Fire at Popular Pizzeria

5/29/2012 (Updated 10:59:58 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

Investigators said spontaneous combustion started the fire at Nirchi's Pizza on the Vestal Parkway in Vestal.

Flames were coming from the back of the building around 10:00PM Monday night.

According to police, the fire was started by greasy rags in a container that sat in the hot sun for three days. When they reached a temperature over 100 degrees, they broke down and caught fire.

Broome County Fire Investigator Jeff Winchell said this kind of fire is pretty rare.  Investigators determined the cause after watching 90 minutes of security video.