Massachusetts man using blowtorch on roof to melt ice sets home on fire

A Massachusetts homeowner accidentally acceptable his location connected occurrence portion trying to melt crystal buildup during a brutal wintertime agelong of arctic misery that has frustrated millions of Americans.

The occurrence broke retired astatine a location successful Milton, Massachusetts, aft the antheral utilized a blowtorch to melt crystal connected his roof, Milton Fire Deputy Chief John Earner said. Flames rapidly dispersed into the attic, turning what appeared to beryllium a tiny flare-up into a large fire.

Witnesses said the occurrence escalated rapidly.

"He gets down, and past we spot the flames conscionable successful the gutter," 1 neighbour told WCVB-TV. "All of a sudden, fume was coming from everywhere. It conscionable seemed similar the full extortion was consumed."

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Snow covers cars pursuing a large tempest connected Jan. 26, 2026 successful Boston. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

Firefighters initially believed the blaze would beryllium minor.

"We pulled the gutter disconnected that broadside of the gathering reasoning it was going to beryllium a airy fire, and the full attic was afloat involved," Earner said.

A mates excavation retired their driveway and walkway pursuing a wintertime tempest that dumped much than a ft and a fractional of snowfall crossed the region, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, successful Haverhill, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Crews battled the flames for hours portion besides dealing with freezing temperatures. Earner said firefighters successful Milton, located astir 9 miles southbound of Boston, called successful assistance from neighboring towns owed to the utmost cold.

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No 1 was injured successful the fire, but neighbors said the incidental serves arsenic a informing arsenic homeowners crossed the portion conflict with snowfall and crystal aft days of harsh weather.

Residents excavation retired their cars successful the South Boston vicinity pursuing a wintertime tempest that dumped much than a ft of snowfall crossed the region, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, successful Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Officials noted that crystal buildup from terrible wintertime upwind tin beryllium unsafe to region without nonrecreational help.

"Just get a nonrecreational institution to instrumentality attraction of your ice," Earner said. "Don’t get hurt. Don’t spell up connected your roofs."