A lesson in mixing open flames with your house was delivered recently when a Massachusetts man accidentally set his home on fire using a blowtorch to melt ice on his roof.
Milton, Massachusetts Fire Deputy Chief John Earner told FOX News that flames quickly spread from the roof into the attic at the home about 90 minutes outside Boston, "turning what appeared to be a small flare-up into a major fire." The roof was fully ablaze within minutes.
While the homeowner was trying to use "creativity" to take the snow and ice off his roof during this cold spell, local firefighters said the temperatures also made it challenging to control the fire.
The bad news is that firefighters had to battle the blaze for hours in frigid temperatures, and call in help from neighboring departments to give crews breaks in the extreme chill. The good news is that no injuries were reported, and the fire was contained to the single home.
Fire Deputy Chief John Earner advised against DIY ice removal on the roof, but if you feel like you have to take weight off the shingles, certainly don't use a blowtorch on it.
"Just get a professional company to take care of your ice," Earner said. "Don’t get hurt. Don’t go up on your roofs." He recommended always calling a roofing professional to avoid accidents.