REO Horror Story: Great Balls of Fire
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Eight-year olds and fire just don't mix. At least that's what Karey Brown with Re/MAX Associates of Topeka, L.C., discovered when she found a toilet burnt to a crisp inside one of her REO properties.
When Karey walked into the home, she found a toilet burnt to pieces and the walls covered in black soot.
“The whole house was full of smoke damage and the basement was full of 'discoloration' as we affectionately call it in the business,” Karey said.
It was hard to imagine a youngster could have caused such damage, but Karey says an eight-year old who lived in the home with his mother was the culprit. Neighbors later told Karey that the young boy “had a thing for fire” and started the blaze by using a lighter and a can of hairspray to create balls of fire in the air. One of the balls was directed towards the toilet and turned into a fire that consumed the whole thing.
“Dennis the Menace didn't have anything on this kid,” Karey said. “The plumber had a heck of a time trying to figure out how and if he was going to be able to winterize this one.”
When Karey walked into the home, she found a toilet burnt to pieces and the walls covered in black soot.
“The whole house was full of smoke damage and the basement was full of 'discoloration' as we affectionately call it in the business,” Karey said.
It was hard to imagine a youngster could have caused such damage, but Karey says an eight-year old who lived in the home with his mother was the culprit. Neighbors later told Karey that the young boy “had a thing for fire” and started the blaze by using a lighter and a can of hairspray to create balls of fire in the air. One of the balls was directed towards the toilet and turned into a fire that consumed the whole thing.
“Dennis the Menace didn't have anything on this kid,” Karey said. “The plumber had a heck of a time trying to figure out how and if he was going to be able to winterize this one.”
