Bug-Bomb Explosion Rip House Apart

nbc san diego ^ | December 17, 2003 | staff

[Not gonna take it anymore]

NBCSandiego.com

Bug-Bomb Explosion Rip House Apart

19 Defoggers Create Gas 'Bomb'

POSTED: 11:43 AM PST December 17, 2003
UPDATED: 12:16 PM PST December 17, 2003

SAN DIEGO -- A City Heights home was destroyed Wednesday morning by bug bombs.

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IMAGES: Bug Bombs Destroy House

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The owners of the house at 3715 Euclid Ave. reportedly set off 19 bug bombs in the home to exterminate insects, only to have the gas inside the containers fill the house until a pilot light ignited it, tearing the house apart.

The three people who lived in the house were outside at the time of the explosion and were unharmed. A neighbor, who is pregnant, was taken to the hospital after she felt nauseous from breathing the fumes.

Each bug bomb is designed to kill insects in a 700-square-foot area, and the home was reportedly only 470 square feet, said a San Diego police officer, who had originally been called to the neighborhood when somebody reported a truck having struck a house.

"It's the first time I've ever seen anything like this," said the officer. "When we first arrived, we were looking for a vehicle, and then the lady who lives in the house contacted us and told us there was no vehicle, that it was an explosion. So we asked her what happened, and she told us that she had placed the defogger bombs in her house. Fire had arrived and we reached the conclusion that there were 19 defoggers in there, which had created a bomb when the gases reached the pilot light."

The resulting explosion at 8:30 blew the rear of the home off, and a Chrismas tree, some ornaments still hanging from its branches, could be seen yawning out the rear of the building. The house was also knocked off its foundation.

Some of the windows in house were knocked from their frames but, remarkably, remained intact.

A nearby house was also damaged in the explosion when the rear wall fell onto its exterior.

The officer offered advice for homeowners who want to use bug bombs.

"If you're going to utilize this type of defogger, please read the directions," he said. "As you can see, more isn't better."

Copyright 2003 by NBCSandiego.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Cboldt]

Did any bugs survive the blast?

Most of 'em, and new ones moving in every day. Man, what a bizzare event.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I'm thinking there is a problem with what they are saying is the square footage.

My house isn't very big and it's 2200 sq. ft.

Me thinks the house is probably 1470 sq. ft.

Who knows, after all the media isn't known for accuracy.

[RightWhale]

Waaiiitt...a 470-square-foot house?

What? Do houses start at 6000 sq ft? Granted, 470 sq ft might be a little tight for 3 adults.

[Xenalyte]

Bug-Bomb Explosion Rip House Apart

Man, do I ever hates it when that happen.

[Smogger]

heheh... Everyone loves bug bombs. I betcha the average peace loving American rolls em in like their tossing a couple of nerve gas grenades into Tora Bora. ;-)

[pctech]

This has got to make "Butthead of the Year" Award! Talk about sheer stupidity!

[squidly]

470 square feet isn't a house, it's a shack. I'm with you, probably a typo.

[mhking]

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[ThirstyMan]

Negligence for you and I maybe, but if my guess is correct they may not have been able to read the instructions on the canisters. It's funny on the one hand but perhaps kinda sad on the other. They would have all died if they'd returned to live in that house. What could they have touched that wouldn't have been contaminated?

[Cultural Jihad]

Sounds like Saddam's 'Democratic Undergound' hole was more spacious than that!

[aculeus]

It was an ugly tree anyway.

Yes but it could (according to the journalist) yawn.

[BobS]

19 bug bombs. Interesting future for Hillary, etc. LOL!

"Oh, she pharted in bed" hehe

[savedbygrace]

I've stayed in moderately priced motel rooms that were nearly 470 square feet. That's only 21 to 22 feet square.

That's one bomb per 24 to 25 square feet, which is 4 X 6 or 5 X 5. Wow!

Think about the procedure of setting off all 19 before you'd be able to exit the house. That'd get you a little high right there, wouldn't it? Or real sick.

[ThirstyMan]

I'm thinking there is a problem with what they are saying is the square footage.

OTOH, truth be told I live in a home just less than 1,200 sq ft and we raised four children.
The pictures show the house was only one room wide, with the christmas tree falling out of what was probably the living room. Now the kitchen must have been an efficiency, the bathroom and that leaves only one bedroom.

[martin_fierro]

The resulting explosion at 8:30 blew the rear of the home off, and a Chrismas tree, some ornaments still hanging from its branches, could be seen yawning out the rear of the building. The house was also knocked off its foundation.

Yule be able to see everything they do in there!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Yule be able to see everything they do in there!

The question is, though, who would WANT to? ;0)

[Old Professer]

What's with the "defogger" terminology? These things produce fog, they don't eliminate it.

The defogger is on the dash of your car just below the windshield.

[martin_fierro]

You Dropped The Bomb On Me, Baby

[teletech]

Bug-Bomb Explosion Rip House Apart

Ya, but the bugs are gone!