Some people shouldn't play with fire.
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ALLENDALE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Firefighters put out a fire at an apartment complex Thursday evening near Grand Valley State University’s campus that investigators believe was started by a torch.

The fire broke out around 6:22 p.m. in an apartment at Copper Beech Townhomes, 10295 48th Avenue. That’s a housing facility for students. The fire was largely put out by 7:20 p.m.

Firefighters arrived on the scene of the three-story building at 6:31 pm. Allendale Fire Department Lieutenant Scott Harkes told FOX 17 at the scene, “Upon arrival, we had fire coming out of the windows on the third floor, in the middle of the building.”

“We were able to quickly knock the fire down.”

Lieutenant Harkes said residents were alerted by smoke detectors. “They tried to extinguish it themselves. Once they realized it was too big, they got out and started alerting the tenants in the building next door.”

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release a preliminary investigation revealed that the apartment tenant was using a butane torch that “accidentally ignited contents of the upper-floor bedroom”.

“One of the tenants said he was lighting candles with a small propane torch,” said Lieutenant Harkes. “He put the torch on his bed. He thought it was all the way off.” Investigators think the fire was accidental.

It was contained to the single apartment, and no adjoining apartments were damaged. Firefighters said everyone would likely be allowed to return to their townhomes Thursday night, other than the unit where the fire occurred.

The sheriff’s office says the tenant sustained some minor injuries. No one else was hurt. The Sheriff’s Department and Allendale Fire Department are still investigating.

Yep, a true idiot. "Small torch" may have been a hobby or cooking butane porch. He is making his crème brûlée between committing acts of arson ...

In the winter of <ages ago> I was freeloading off a buddy. And in the next room/apartment over, the building owner's son lit his bed on fire. Looking for something under it. With a candle. Ever been in a fire? This was a small one. It seemed like there was a 40mph draft barreling through the hallways.

The firefighters took one look at my room, down a couple steps from the main floor, and opened the top window sashes. Instead of breaking the windows.

Back in the 70s, during a very, very cold winter here, someone had the fuel line of his car frozen and he was going to address the problem by pouring warm gasoline in the gas tank to thaw it out. Where did the warmed up gas come from, you ask? He poured some gas into a small pot and heated it up ON HIS STOVE. Only managed to burn down the kitchen, though.

I had a buddy when in the Navy who lived in a mobile home and was washing motorcycle parts in his kitchen sink with gasoline and decided to fry some eggs on the gas stove right next to the sink. Yep trailer went up in flames!

Stupid is as stupid does. I remember getting a call about a house fire years ago and can't help wondering how do people live so long without dying off years prior? This one lady thought it would be a good idea to get rid of the fire ants in her kitchen area by spraying gasoline all over the counters,including the stove. The moron had a natural gas stove. Surprise, surprise.

quote:

Originally posted by patw:
Stupid is as stupid does. I remember getting a call about a house fire years ago and can't help wondering how do people live so long without dying off years prior? This one lady thought it would be a good idea to get rid of the fire ants in her kitchen area by spraying gasoline all over the counters,including the stove. The moron had a natural gas stove. Surprise, surprise.

Well it worked didn't it???