By Daily Press staff
The fire, which was reported around 2 a.m., started in the outdoor trash area of a house on 300 block of 9th Street, according to the Santa Monica Fire Department. The flames spread to the eaves of an adjoining garage and damaged the attic storage space.
No one was home at the time of the fire. One firefighter was treated at a local hospital for an injury and released.
Oil-soaked rags, which often have been used for staining, can ignite when heat is generated, according to a fire department release.
Such rags should be soaked in water and dried before being discarded, the release said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 2, 2002. Read the original PDF.