This cedar hedge of a central Parksville home was destroyed by a blow torch earlier this month. Parksville Fire Rescue reports they respond to four to six of these types of accidental fires annually. (Parksville Fire Rescue)

By Ian Holmes

misfire

Blow torch used to burn weeds backfires on Parksville home owner

Jun 18, 2020 | 12:16 PM

PARKSVILLE — A recent attempt to burn unwanted weeds under a cedar hedge in Parksville went completely off the rails.

Parksville Fire Rescue assistant chief Steven Liedl said damage caused by misuse of a propane torch was contained to the hedge in part because neighbours sprung into action to help contain the blaze.

“People get the idea of using the torch as an easy, cost-effective way to rid weeds when in actuality it’s quite dangerous,” Liedl told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Liedl said while the hedge was the only casualty, the fire burned just a few feet away from the neighbouring house.

He said cedar hedges in particular are notoriously dry, highlighting the importance of not using fire near them.

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“In most hedges that dryness continues all the way through the hedge, so once it starts in one spot it’s normally a very fast fire that can continue.”

Liedl said their department responds to four or six of these types of calls annually.

Image of the blow torch and signed hedge to a central Parksville porperty. (Parksville Fire Rescue)

Liedl noted past similar incidents resulted in fires jumping to garden sheds or fences.

“There’s lots of alternate ways to control weeds in driveways, landscaping and around hedges,” Liedl said. “It’s not a safe practice to use any type of propane torch around weeds any time of the year.”

Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief Karen Fry said their crews also respond to several of these types of fires annually. She said the bigger concern is improperly discarded cigarettes igniting planters.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes