Spitball Army

From this morning’s SouthCoastToday.com (link here):

Man using cutting torch to thaw ice accidentally sets house on fire
By Brian Fraga, Standard-Times staff writer
December 23, 2008, 6:00 AM

BEDFORD — A home-owner using a blowtorch to melt ice on his back porch accidentally set fire to his North End triple-decker Monday, officials said.

The blaze at 107 Davis St. caused $20,000-$30,000 worth of damage and displaced several residents, Fire Capt. Scott Kruger said.

Those who were home escaped safely after being alerted by smoke alarms, he said.

Firefighters responding to the call around 1:39 p.m. saw flames and smoke coming from the tenement’s second and third floors. It took 25 firefighters about 30 minutes to subdue the fire.

Snow and ice the fire trucks’ mobility. Firefighters guarded against hoses freezing and prevented streets from icing over from the running water.

Capt. Kruger said the building’s owner was trying to melt the snow and ice on the back porch using a large 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 uninsulated exterior wall and chased into the second and third-floor apartments, Capt. Kruger said.

The fire damaged the rear bedrooms in the second- and third-floor apartments, and caused extensive damage to the structure and electrical wiring.

Occupants have all made alternative housing arrangements.

No firefighters were injured.

The homeowner will not be charged in the accidental fire.

“This is an example of how you should not use a cutting torch to thaw out frozen water pipes or anything else,” he said. “When you have wood framing, it will cause a fire.”