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Darwin Awards
2006 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Gas in woodstove

2006 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/03/13/woman_dies_of_burns_after_using_gasoline_to_ignite_wood_stove/

Woman dies of burns after using gasoline to ignite wood stove March 13, 2006

DENNYSVILLE, Maine --An elderly woman died of burns after using gasoline to ignite the wood stove in her home in this eastern Maine town, authorities said Monday.

Breaking News Alerts

Jean Sprague, 83, died Sunday night at Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she had been flown by helicopter. Sprague poured gasoline from a gas can into the wood stove in her living room Saturday night in order to burn green firewood that was recently cut, the state fire marshal's office said. The fuel exploded and the woman's clothing caught fire. Sprague, who was able to put out the blaze and call for help, was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Calais before being transferred to Maine Medical Center. The fire marshal's office said no one should ever use a flammable liquid to start a fire in a wood stove or fireplace. Officials also cautioned against using green firewood, which is difficult to burn and can lead to a dangerous buildup of creosote in chimneys and stove pipes. © Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Submitted on 03/13/2006

Submitted by: Reuben
Reference: Boston Globe 3/13/2006

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

Great? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Awful?
Love it! Hate it!
>> Moderator Scores <<

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
While this borders on "not amusing", it occurred to me that anyone who lived 83 years in a place like Maine should know the "do's and don'ts" of firewood and gasoline! I'll vote DA this time!

Sheryl said:
Maybe Toss: Not Amusing
Sorry, for me it goes over the border into "Not Amusing"

Jorge said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence

Charles said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I have to side with James on this one. After 83 years, you would think...

Greg said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Sheesh! Good effort. Yes, given her experience I go with Charles and James too!

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