London fire officials are warning of the dangers of having an open flame near chemicals after a fire in the Pond Mills area.
Fire crews were called to a townhouse at 159 Deveron Cres. just before 9:15pm Tuesday after heavy smoke was seen coming from the second floor. No one was injured in the blaze and the flames were doused before they were able to spread to neighbouring homes.
Platoon Chief Jim Stockdale says the blaze has been deemed accidental.
"The owner was using gasoline with solvents to strip wood. He lit candles to clear the smell," says Stockdale. "He then left the house to get a coffee and there was an explosion."
Stockdale says this type of fire is not uncommon.
"This does tend to happen where you get someone not thinking," says Stockdale. "In your home normally you have flames. You've got a pilot light on your stove and your water heater. Using gasoline as a solvent in your laundry room for example, you wouldn't realize the gasoline is going to give off vapour just a few feet away from a water heater that has a pilot light burning all the time. The vapour meets that and they ignite."
Damage is estimated at $150,000.
