Milton homeowner accidentally starts house fire using blowtorch on roof ice
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A Massachusetts homeowner accidentally set his house on fire while trying to melt ice that had accumulated during a brutal winter of arctic misery that has frustrated millions of Americans.
The fire broke out at a home in Milton, Massachusetts, after a man used a blowtorch to melt ice on its roof, said Milton Deputy Fire Chief John Earner. The flames quickly spread to the attic and what appeared to be a small flame turned into a large fire.
Eyewitnesses said the fire was growing rapidly.
“We come down and immediately see the flames in the gutter,” a neighbor said. WCVB-TV. “Suddenly smoke started coming out everywhere. It was like the whole roof was on fire.”
RETIRED NYPD OFFICER DIED IN THE DESERT WHILE SHOWLING SNOW FOR CHURCHES DURING DEVASTIOUS NORTHEAST WINTER STORM
After the big storm in Boston on January 26, 2026, snow covered the cars. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Firefighters initially thought the fire would be small.
“We took out the gutter on that side of the building, thinking it would be a light fire, and the entire attic was completely involved in the fire,” Earner said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a couple dug up driveways and walkways following a winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on the area. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Teams battled the flames for hours while dealing with freezing temperatures. Firefighters in Milton, about 9 miles south of Boston, called for help from neighboring towns because of the extreme cold, Earner said.
DUE TO HISTORIC WINTER STORM, 18 STATES DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WHILE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE PREPARING FOR ‘DISASTER’ ICIES
No one was injured in the fire, but neighbors said the incident served as a warning as homeowners in the area battled snow and ice after days of harsh weather.
In Boston, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, residents of a South Boston neighborhood dug out their cars following a winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on the area. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Officials stated that removing ice formation resulting from severe winter conditions without professional help could be dangerous.
“Just have your ice serviced by a professional company,” Earner said. “Don’t get hurt. Don’t go on your roofs.”
