A Riverside man who tried to exterminate a hive of wasps set fire to the aerosol chemicals he was using, creating a makeshift blowtorch that burned his hand and part of his apartment, officials said Wednesday.
The fire happened at The Woodlands apartment complex on the 1100 block of Blaine Street at about 3 p.m. Tuesday, Riverside Fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta, a department spokesman, said. A resident was attempting to clear out a hive in the eaves of the roof above his balcony, and told firefighters he had ignited the wasp spray he was using.
“That is absolutely not how you’re supposed to use that,” Guzzetta said. “The chemical is an insecticide, and the liquid is supposed to kill the insects.”
But instead, the resident tried to kill them with fire.
Portions of his outdoor balcony were burned, but flames did not enter the building, Guzzetta said. Nearby residents, including a dog, had been evacuated as a precaution. But they were allowed to return to their homes as soon as firefighters doused the small blaze.
The resident who said he started the fire was hospitalized with a burn injury, Guzzetta said. He was seen sitting up and texting with a bandage over his hand as he was wheeled on a stretcher into an ambulance Wednesday afternoon. It was not immediately clear what if any liability he might face.
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