Henry Daily Herald

McDONOUGH — An upscale home here ignited into flames after a resident set off an insect fogger inside the house.

When firefighters arrived on the scene they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the basement, said Henry Fire Capt. Sabrina Puckett.

“Firefighters made an aggressive attack confining the fire to the area of origin, however, the occupants are still left with some fire, smoke, and water damage to their home.”

Firefighters responded to the house fire on Friday, at approximately 8 a.m., on Silverton Drive inside the Stanley Park subdivision. Prior to the blaze, the home was valued at $325,000, according to fire officials.

The fire department urge residents to be careful when using pesticides inside a house, said Puckett.

“The bug bombs combined with a pilot light are believed to be the cause of the fire,” Puckett said. “Fortunately, there was no one injured.”

She said using pest control, which is likely to be a common practice among homeowners, should be incident free. Insect foggers — used to kill fleas, roaches, ticks, ants, and other pests — contain a highly flammable ingredient. The directions on insect foggers state that certain precautions must be followed when using the foggers, added Puckett.

“Besides being flammable, insect foggers can be highly toxic to humans and pets,” she said. Exposed food and dishes must be removed or covered before using a fogger, and all pets must be removed from the home.

The fire captain suggested a few simple tips, to prevent the devastation of losing a home to fire, and/or an explosion in an attempt to rid the home of bugs.

• Carefully read the product label first. Product labels provide information on how to use the product safely. Ask for help if you have trouble understanding the instructions.

• Turn off all possible ignition sources when using bug bombs. This includes stoves, heaters, and water heaters that have pilot lights. Be sure to turn off all electrical appliances that may generate heat or sparks.

• Use only the number of foggers you need for the area you want to treat. You will find that information in the directions. Using more than the recommended number does not eliminate pests faster.

• Reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to keep pests away (cover garbage, keep food in plastic containers, keep house clean, etc.).

• Contact a commercial applicator to control the presence of pests if you are experiencing a severe infestation.