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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, Copy editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Torched!: Three fires blamed on weed torches

• Propane torches start three fires in Edmonds

By Chris Fyall
Enterprise editor

Sometimes, weeding with a pitchfork just isn't fast enough.

Edmonds' fire department understands that.

Still, according to fire officials, burning away weeds with propane-fueled torches isn't a great summer idea, either.

Three different fires have been started in the city in the last week by people trying to burn away their pesky weed problems.

The department is urging homeowners and landscape firms to discontinue the use of torches during the current hot, dry weather.

"Propane weed burners are a hazard to both vegetation and structures," said Edmonds Fire Marshall Mike Smith in a statement.

One local man caught a large bush on fire after trying to burn back the grass in his driveway, fire officials said.

Two fires were started by landscape firms. One was removing weeds from a sidewalk when they accidentally ignited Juniper shrubs. The other, at the Holy Rosary Church, started a series of small bark fires while trying to burn back weeds in planting beds.

Each of the fires was extinguished within 20 minutes of the fire department getting the call, officials said. Two of the fires were put out by the people who caused the fire, but the third required firefighters to use water and foam.

"We cannot trace a serious fire to these (torches), but we have had a problem," said Fire Chief Tom Tomberg. "To have three events in one week is pretty unusual."

The Edmonds fire department also responded to three bark fires in the last week, but those were likely caused by discarded cigarettes, according to a statement.

Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com