A home in Norway has heavy damage from a house fire on Everett Drive on Tuesday afternoon.
Several fire departments assisted the Norway Fire Department after the house was found under heavy fire conditions.
The state Fire Marshal’s Office was brought in to investigate and found the fire was caused by frozen pipes being thawed using heaters and electrical heat tape.
The fire was ruled accidental, and the Fire Marshal is reminding residents that thawing frozen pipes can be a serious fire hazard if not done properly.
People are advised to never use open flames, such as torches or heat guns, to thaw pipes.
Portable heaters should be kept at least three feet away from combustible materials and should never be left unattended. They say electrical heat tape should only be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and should be inspected regularly for damage.
Anybody unsure about how to safely thaw frozen pipes should contact a licensed plumber.
