Seed cotton is removed from the field by a harvester and taken to the cotton gin to finish the harvesting process by separating the incoming seed cotton into four products: cotton fiber/lint, cottonseed, motes and cotton gin trash. Disposal of the cotton gin trash/burrs can be accomplished by spreading over fields, fed as a bulk feed ingredient, used in composting operations or used as a base material for several other products. The gin trash/burrs may be temporarily stored in bulk (burr piles) on site, or are shipped from the property. If they are shipped from the property, it is not uncommon for these burrs to be stored in bulk on an off-site property, either owned or leased by the gin company. As with any woody material, burrs can be burned and fires occur. The cause of burr fires is usually not known, but could be caused by an ember carried from the gin plant, due to a machinery fire, hot bearing, or similar source, lightening, a hot muffler or spark from a truck or loader, fireworks, or even a carelessly tossed cigarette. Anecdotal information sometimes alleges that burrs are capable of spontaneous combustion but the science does not support this assertion. This paper summarizes research on the flammability of gin trash and spontaneous combustion and related issues.