Torch Blamed for Starting Fire 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
TORCH BLAMED FOR STARTING FIRE
By Toby Manthey / Lincoln Journal Star
A man using a torch to turn the gas back on at his home Sunday night caused an $11,000 fire, authorities said. Fire Inspector Donald Gross said a resident of 431 W. Burt Drive was trying to remove the pin that gas company officials had used to shut off the gas meter. Deputy Chief Rich Furasek of Lincoln Fire and Rescue said the torch lit some brush near the house, which ignited an eave of the house. Firefighters had to tear holes in the ceiling of the house to fight the fire. Furasek said $10,000 damage was done to the structure of the house and $1,000 to its contents.
Two people were inside the house when the blaze started, Capt. Guy Pinkman said, but no one was injured. A spokesman for the American Red Cross said it planned to help out with overnight housing for the occupants. Three engines, two trucks, an air unit and a deputy chief responded to the blaze, which began at 9:31 p.m. and was put out in about 15 minutes, Pinkman said.
The fire was called in by neighbors, Pinkman said.
Reach Toby Manthey at 473-7395 or citydesk@journalstar.com.
http://www.journalstar.com/local.php?story_id=14472
Submitted on 08/05/2002
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
Lincoln Journal Star, 8/5/2002
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