Posted on 10/01/2007 3:27:13 PM PDT by decimon
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- A Triad man who was trying to rid his home of pesky yellow jackets is now looking for a new home.
Authorities said Hugh Williams sprayed insecticide in a hole next to the St. Andrews Road house on Sunday, but that didn't kill the bugs.
He then stuck paper in the hole and lit it, but the fire spread into the house and the attic, authorities said.
The home on Monday was draped with a blue tarp, and the chimney was bruised with fire soot.
"We certainly do not advocate the burning out of these insects, although it may work," said assistant Greensboro Fire Chief David Douglas.
The family is safe and no injuries were reported, but about $80,000 worth of damage was done to the home.
Fire officials said the house has been condemned until repairs can be made.
Williams did not want to be interviewed.
Hit a nest with my mower just this afternoon. I used what was on hand. After dark, they got a nice flush with a gallon of boiling water mixed with bleach. Total satisfaction.
Did he kill the yellow jackets?
I did the same thing once. Got a nasty sting in the thumb that kept me awake all night. Should consider myself lucky I only had two stings total
it worked all right
very cool flame thrower in that photo....how do I get one?
Google “homemade flamethrower” and get some hints. They’re all different.
Hold muh beer Vern.
You just have to be patient, and peck away at them in the evening when they aren’t active. Now if they had a nest in a hole in the ground in the yard, I’d just tell the kids to go get them. Give ‘em bug bomb, some gasoline, a hose hooked up to the faucet and some really thick winter clothing. It’s great to see kids in 95 degree weather in thick down jackets, doing battle with nature. They soon learn what’s most effective.
They used to love fashioning (relatively) bee-proof helmets out of old plastic pails with taped-in screen, etc. It hurts like H@ll to get stung, but one soon learns to avoid that :)
I hope his wife had a Home Owning Idiot policy on him, since there’s no way normal homeowner’s would pay it.
Ouchie. And your instincts are strong padwan, no fire with the gasoline.
I’m thinking some sort of new edgy Jackass where the clowns release wasps and yellow jackets into situations and video record the carnage (fun?). Ok we will surgically remove or genetically mutate away the stingers from our subject insects who are kept healthy and happy at Bug Out, a state of the art PETA Approved facility for show insects. I kid, but insects make people especially the ladies go loco. Very funny stuff. Speaking of loco I just re-read this post and all I have to say is bzzz bzzz, SWAT!
I had a nest of fire ants that just wouldn’t die until I drove a copper ground rod into the hole, dropped a split-ring truck rim around it, and built a charcoal fire in it. I think I steamed ‘em.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.