Lesson for the day: Don't use a blowtorch to try to melt snow off your house

[The Straight Story]

Lesson for the day: Don't use a blowtorch to try to melt snow off your house


NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Fire officials in New Bedford, Mass., say a man using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch ended up setting his house on fire, causing up to $30,000 in damage.

Fire Capt. Scott Kruger tells The Standard-Times of New Bedford that no on was injured during Monday’s incident at the three-story home.

Kruger says the man was using a torch hooked up to a 20-pound propane cylinder. He got too close to the building’s wood frame and ignited the vinyl siding. The fire quickly spread into the building’s second- and third-floor apartments.

It took 25 firefighters to subdue the blaze that damaged bedrooms in the upstairs units, and caused damage to the structure and wiring.

http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20081223/UPDATES01/81223013

[slackmaster]

1. It must have been a roofing torch, like the one I use to light charcoal

It takes less than one minute to get the coals raging.

[Tesha]

4. That's what the TV news showed. (NT)

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. So the firemen pour water on everything, now the guy has ice up the wazoo.

He was better off with his original problem.

[Juneboarder]

3. Smart cookie... nt

[Greyhound]

5. Here's your sign. n/t

[Subdivisions]

6. Darwin Award nominee. Or does that only apply to

people who die in a stupid way and by their own hand?

But seriously, I'm glad no one was hurt.

[Lil Missy]

7. What are the odds this was a Palin supporter?

:eyes:

[JimGinPA]

8. Something Similar Happened To A Friend Of Mines Father...

He was trading a car in & he didn't want to give up his full tank of gas - so he tried to suck it out with a Shop-Vac in his garage. Same result, he burned down his house.