Propane torch used to burn weeds suspected cause of Orléans house fire

A propane torch used to burn weeds is suspected of causing a fire that destroyed two homes in Orléans. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

A torch used to burn weeds is the suspected cause of a major house fire in Orléans that destroyed two homes, preliminary findings into the investigation have found.

“This is a dangerous way to take care of weeds in the city. We do not recommend it,” said Nick DeFazio, public information officer with Ottawa Fire Services.

“It caught directly to the cedar hedges, which are extremely flammable, then spread quickly from the cedar hedges to the siding of the house, which again goes up like liquid gasoline, and then spread to the attic, the roof, and then right to the next-door neighbour’s house.”

It’s the second fire of that nature in the last few months, Ottawa fire officials say.

Fire crews were called to the scene in the Chapel Hill neighbourhood around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday and immediately declared a second alarm to bring more resources to the scene.

“The flames were like 25 feet in the air,” said Lori Rose who lives across the street. “We were standing here for a little while and had to go back in the house because the heat was just incredible. The front door was so hot we couldn’t even touch it.”

An elderly man was treated for smoke inhalation, and a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

It took approximately two hours to get the blaze under control. Four people are displaced and damage is estimated at $2 million.

Rose said she’s heartbroken for her neighbours.

“It’s sad around the neighbourhood,” she said. “We all kind of know everybody and it’s been hard for the neighbourhood to see that happen.”

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