OH Press: Makeshift heat lamp causes fire

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Posted by Wes von Papine�u on December 28, 2001 at 03:06:01:

BEACON JOURNAL (Akron, Ohio) 27 December 01 Makeshift heat lamp causes fire - Photo equipment used to keep lizards warm sets blaze in N. Canton home
North Canton: Photographic equipment converted into a heat lamp for two foot-long lizards caused a Christmas Day house fire that would have been much worse had the family come home even a few minutes later.
Firefighters contained the blaze, which started around 7 p.m., to the back bedroom in a brick and frame ranch house in the 1400 block of Red Coach Street Southeast.
Nobody was home and no injuries were reported.
The family's grown son, who was visiting his parents, had used a photographer's aluminum reflector and light bulb as a makeshift heat lamp to keep his reptiles warm.
``The concentrated heat of this thing was so intense it ignited the chair and closeby bedding,'' said Sam Bacon Jr., the North Canton Fire Department's chief of fire prevention.
He said the family came home, heard the smoke detectors and saw the house filling with smoke.
``Had (the fire) had more time, it would have been a much more serious situation,'' Bacon said.
The lizards died of smoke inhalation. Fire damage was contained to the bedroom, but smoke throughout the house will require cleaning.
He said the family is insured for the loss, which is estimated at $10,000 for the building and $5,000 for the contents.

Makeshift heat lamp causes fire

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Nobody was home & nobody was injured... I guess dead lizards don't count np xta 12/28/01 (0)

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: BEACON JOURNAL (Akron, Ohio) 27 December 01 Makeshift heat lamp causes fire - Photo equipment used to keep lizards warm sets blaze in N. Canton home : North Canton: Photographic equipment converted into a heat lamp for two foot-long lizards caused a Christmas Day house fire that would have been much worse had the family come home even a few minutes later. : Firefighters contained the blaze, which started around 7 p.m., to the back bedroom in a brick and frame ranch house in the 1400 block of Red Coach Street Southeast. : Nobody was home and no injuries were reported. : The family's grown son, who was visiting his parents, had used a photographer's aluminum reflector and light bulb as a makeshift heat lamp to keep his reptiles warm. : ``The concentrated heat of this thing was so intense it ignited the chair and closeby bedding,'' said Sam Bacon Jr., the North Canton Fire Department's chief of fire prevention. : He said the family came home, heard the smoke detectors and saw the house filling with smoke. : ``Had (the fire) had more time, it would have been a much more serious situation,'' Bacon said. : The lizards died of smoke inhalation. Fire damage was contained to the bedroom, but smoke throughout the house will require cleaning. : He said the family is insured for the loss, which is estimated at $10,000 for the building and $5,000 for the contents. :

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