One use for a 20# propane cylinder

[planovet]

Man melting snow with blowtorch ignites home
He wanted to clear back porch, instead he's got $30,000 in damage

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.

The homeowner will not be charged.

[toypusher]

DOH!!!

[madjack]

...UHGGG-fire hot-wood burn...sheeeesh, some peoples kids ......................

[starleen2]

Maybe he should have use a BIGGER torch that way the INTENSE heat would melt the snow quicker and would not have to spend so much time trying to get the wood to ignite ... geez

[Kevin A]

Almost a candidate for the Darwin Awards.

[Jst83]

Almost a candidate for the Darwin Awards.

Almost I'd say for sure a candidate

[planovet]

Almost a candidate for the Darwin Awards.

Almost I'd say for sure a candidate

Actually the Darwin Awards are given to people "who ensure the long-term survival of the human race by removing themselves from the gene pool in a sublimely idiotic fashion." While this person did not remove himself from the gene pool, he definitely showed that he swims in the shallow end.

Here is a Darwin Award candidate for 2008:

(14 April 2008, Texas) A contract worker was hired to install reinforcement bars on a communications tower near Camp Bullis. He was wielding power tools high above the ground, when two other workers saw him lean back and fall 225 feet to his death. Turns out, the man had loosened the bolts on the bar to which he was attached.