I’ve survived three dryer fires in four years, and the first one struck just four days after opening my very first store. The culprit each time? Clothes saturated with an accelerant that the customer never bothered to wash out. It’s the kind of surprise nobody puts on a grand-opening checklist - yet it’s one every laundromat owner should expect.

1. From Panic to Policy: My “Day-4” Wake-Up Call

That first blaze found us unprepared. We had no protocol, no staff training, and no extinguisher within easy reach. The smoke cleared, but the lesson stuck: fire response must be baked into your operation from day one. Today every new employee at Wash Bar spends part of orientation learning:

2. Facts vs. Facebook Fears

Social media loves a laundromat inferno, but here’s the truth I’ve lived: 99% of fires can be contained with little or no permanent damage - as long as someone’s on duty and trained. An unattended store, on the other hand, all but guarantees a major loss.

3. The Usual Suspects Behind Dryer Fires

1. Unwashed garments with accelerants (gasoline, cooking oil, auto grease)

2. Pocket lighters that rupture at ignition temperature (they usually self-extinguish if the drum keeps spinning)

3. Lint negligence - clogged traps and ducts cook faster than a pizza oven

4. Equipment failure - rare, but real; preventive maintenance beats wishful thinking

4. Tech Helps, People Save the Day

Modern dryers boast heat sensors, reverse tumbling, and even built-in water suppression. Great tools, but hardware is your backup singer. Your staff is the headliner.

5. Insurance: The Fire Drill You Do with Paperwork

A dryer fire you handle well can still hurt if your policy doesn’t cover:

• Business-interruption income

• Debris removal and smoke remediation

• Replacement-cost valuation on machines

Pro tip: Work with an agent who gets laundromats. An uninformed agent can accidentally strip out coverage you’ll need the most.

Need a second set of eyes on your policy?
Join our private Innovators Lounge community and tag Kristen—my former #1 insurance agent and now Laundry Advisors’ operations lead. She’ll happily walk you through the fine print.

6. Your “Be-Ready” Checklist

• 🔲 Post extinguisher locations and PASS instructions at every bank of dryers

• 🔲 Empty lint traps each morning; deep-clean ducts quarterly

• 🔲 Create a fire log - every incident, no matter how small, gets recorded and reviewed

• 🔲 Run surprise fire drills twice a year (customers remember the professionalism)

• 🔲 Review insurance coverage annually, especially after adding equipment

Closing Spin Cycle

Dryer fires are inevitable, but catastrophe is optional. When flames hit the drum, your preparation determines whether it’s a story you tell or the day your doors close for good. Train your people, service your machines, insure your business, and plan for the unknown. The spark may be out of your control; the outcome never is.

Stay safe, stay profitable,
—Josh Chapman, Founder, Wash Bar & Laundry Advisors