'Spontaneous combustion' caused Cafe Oi fire as devastated owners speak out

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A devastating fire at Marsden's popular Cafe Oi was started by 'spontaneous combustion' in a tumble dryer, the owners have revealed.

The restaurant in Peel Street, Marsden, near Huddersfield, looks set to be closed for months following a blaze on Saturday evening, October 19. The business only opened in July after a £50,000 investment.

The restaurant's devastated owners, Mollie Davies and Maisie Power, are now searching for a temporary space in which to prepare food for the upcoming Manchester Christmas Market.

Read more: Castle Hill developers have 'myth busting' response to Huddersfield critics

In a post on social media, the owners said the fire had been caused by "spontaneous combustion in the tumble dryer", adding: "Guys, never trust your dryer, ours was brand new and turned off."

Cafe Oi has appealed on social media for temporary new premises following a devastating fire at the restaurant in Marsden -Credit:Cafe Oi
Cafe Oi has appealed on social media for temporary new premises following a devastating fire at the restaurant in Marsden -Credit:Cafe Oi

The Cafe Oi owners thanked firefighters for putting out the blaze, adding: "And so we are left with a perished establishment. What isn’t burnt, is damaged by smoke and water. It was lucky that the fire was caught when it was. To the team of brave professionals that put the fire out, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

They are now working hard to replace equipment destroyed in the fire, while their insurers deal with the damage to the premises.

The owners added: "We have the Manchester Christmas Markets around the corner and we are in urgent need of a temporary space to prep in, and we need your help to find that space.

"The team at Manchester Markets have kindly delayed our final payment to give us room to replace the equipment that perished in the fire. The markets played a massive part in funding our restaurant, and we hope that it will play its future role in rebuilding our restaurant.

Cafe Oi has appealed on social media for temporary new premises following a devastating fire at the restaurant in Marsden -Credit:Cafe Oi
Cafe Oi has appealed on social media for temporary new premises following a devastating fire at the restaurant in Marsden -Credit:Cafe Oi

"We’re not giving up. In times of darkness we are looking for the light and luckily enough for us, there's a great big massive hole in the roof of the building. So there we go, we will move and do the only thing we can right now. Steam some award winning dumplings for the Manchester Christmas Markets."

They shared a photo of the extensive damage inside the cafe and added: "Please share. We are in search of a temporary prep space for the Christmas markets."

Fire services and insurance companies in the UK have previously issued warnings about the dangers of self-combustion of dried cloths/laundry and the risks from excess 'fluff' inside the dryer.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for comment.

Get all the latest What’s On news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.