Dry Cleaning Machine Malfunction Prompts Fire Department Response at ZIPS on West Street in Annapolis

A malfunction involving a dry cleaning machine prompted an emergency response to ZIPS Cleaners on West Street Saturday after the Annapolis Fire Department received a report of an explosion and commercial building fire.

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According to a media release from the Annapolis Fire Department, firefighters responded to the business in the 1900 block of West Street on August 29, 2026.

When firefighters arrived, they determined that a dry-cleaning machine had malfunctioned, causing a sudden pressure release involving the machine and an adjacent dryer.

Before firefighters arrived, an occupant of the business quickly used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the fire, preventing it from spreading beyond the immediate area.

Firefighters found no active fire when they arrived and confirmed that the incident was contained to the affected equipment.

According to the Fire Department, the building sustained no fire-related damage. Some clothing and other materials in the immediate area, however, were damaged as a result of the incident and the discharge of the fire extinguisher.

No injuries were reported among civilians or fire department personnel.

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department provided mutual aid assistance during the response.

The incident was investigated by the Annapolis Fire Department Fire and Explosive Services Unit and the Anne Arundel County Fire Department Fire Investigations Unit. Investigators determined that the incident was caused by a malfunction of the dry-cleaning machine.

As a result of the incident, electrical and gas utilities to ZIPS Cleaners have been shut off. According to the Annapolis Fire Department, it is not yet known when the business will reopen for normal operations.