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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
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Indoor Barbeque, near miss

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Firefighters were called to a Bradford house late last night after a man lit a fire on a table so he could see to eat his supper.

The householder called the fire service at midnight when his smoke alarm activated.

Bradford firefighters were concerned to discover that he had set light to newspapers on top of magazines on his living room table.

A spokesman said the man told firefighters his lights had gone out and he needed to see to eat his fish supper.

The man, in his 30s, who lives in Thorsby Street, Thornbury, is to receive a visit from the brigade's community safety team.

"He lit a fire with newspaper on his table," the spokesman said.

"We urge people not to light open fires in their homes unless they have a fireplace.

"If it had spread to the furniture it could have been serious. Buy a torch."

There was no damage to the house.

Submitted on 07/19/2007

Submitted by: John Holliday
Reference: Bradord Telegraph & Argus, England, 19 July 2007

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
I'm amazed that somebody would simply set fire to a pile of papers for light if the power went out. Hasn't he ever heard of flashlights (torches) or even good old fashioned candles? I bet that spokesman had to hold back from laughing when he suggested people not light fires indoors unless they have fireplaces. Thanks for sending this in, John!


James said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
We've had several blackouts (of varying degrees, including the three big ones I lived through) here in New York City, and pretty much everyone has at least a flashlight or a candle. In the worst case, I could eat my dinner in complete darkness (the blind do it every day). I imagine most people could if they had to, so there's no excuse for this sort of stupidity. Add to that the fact that the victim was not an aged fellow in his dotage but a young (and presumably intelligent) man in his 30s. Definite HM! Thanks, John!


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