An attempt to get rid of pests ended in a devastating house fire Sunday evening. The homeowners, trying to get rid of a nest of bees, lit a stick on fire and pushed it into the underside of the gutter. They were unable to extinguish the fire, and it progressed into the attic.
Units from both the City of Fayetteville Fire Department and Fayette County Fire & Emergency Services responded with full force, but the home on Burch Road in the county was a total loss. None of the occupants were injured. The Red Cross is assisting the family.
Fayette County Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bartlett advises using only the proper means to displace bugs and animals around the home. There could be pine straw or paper-backed insulation in a gutter which can readily ignite.
