Plumber was working with torch when vacant house caught fire
Published 7:00 pm Monday, October 8, 2018
- Vicksburg firefighters work to put out hot spots as they battle a blaze that destroyed a house at 633 Hutson St. Monday morning. (John Surratt/The Vicksburg Post)
An open flame from a torch is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a home at 633 Hutson Street Monday morning.
The fire occurred about 9:15 a.m. Monday.
Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk said a plumber working in the attic of the vacant home told firefighters he was in the attic of the house using the torch to sweat copper pipes to connect them when he heard a cracking sound and the ceiling gave way with him falling to the floor with the torch, which apparently ignited something combustible on the floor.
Danczyk said the house was inundated in the 2011 flood, when floodwaters covered it up to the roof. He said the fire was discovered by paramedics and firefighters responding to a medic call from the plumber, who managed to get out of the house. Danczyk said firefighters on Truck 9 assisting on the medic call reported the house fire, saying it was fully involved.