'Freak accident' causes house fire

By Staff
Jason Cannon, FCT Publisher
Last Saturday, a Russellville homeowner suffered extensive damage to her home in what the authorities call a freak accident.
Russellville Fire Marshal Bobby Malone said, while reaching for an item on a closet shelf, the woman knocked off a box of knives. As the knives fell to the floor, one punctured the side of a can of air freshener, spewing the chemical all over the heater.
Seconds later, it burst into flames.
"The odds of something like that happening are awful low, but that just goes to show you it can happen," Malone said.
Malone said the propellants used in aerosol cans are highly flammable, something many people don't realize.
"Spray deodorant, air fresheners, anything like that it flammable," he said.
With the holiday season fully upon us, Malone said something as simple as putting a can of air freshener too close to a heater can cause a very un-merry Christmas.
"All flammable liquids should be stored away from all heat sources," Malone said. "Because, you really can't tell what might happen."
Malone said other things that might ruin a holiday tend to be things that most homeowners enjoy about the winter – not having to do yard work.
One of the first things homeowners should do as winter sets in, Malone advised, is to check all gas powered mowers and trimmers to make sure they are stored away from heaters and vents.
Gas and gas-powered implements should be stored in a well-ventilated place, Malone added.