It wasn’t a great way to end a barbecue on the deck with friends.
Fire officials are warning the public to take care with propane appliances after a North Vancouver man set fire to his own patio furniture and the side of his condo unit Thursday night.
The man was having a barbecue with friends on his patio at Mountain Terrace on Ostler Court and had a propane fireplace going, said Bradley Gaudette, assistant fire chief for District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue.
As the evening grew cooler, the man attempted to light his stand-up propane heater as well, but couldn’t get it to start, said Gaudette. Unfortunately, propane had continued to leak out of the heater. Eventually, it caught on the flame from the propane fireplace and ignited.
The sudden fire burned patio furniture and began to climb up the side of the condo unit while the host and a friend battled it with a hose.
Firefighters arrived soon after and put the fire out.
Gaudette said there was smoke damage to the unit, but other condos in the complex weren’t affected.
“It was definitely operator error,” said Gaudette about the cause of the fire.
Gaudette added it’s a reminder not to fool around with propane units. “If you’re not familiar with it, read the instructions or find someone who is.”
