People Keep Setting Their Homes on Fire While Trying to Melt Snow
A man in Milton, Massachusetts set his house on fire last week while using a torch to melt ice on his roof. And believe it or not, this keeps happening. Multiple people. In multiple states. Over multiple years.
The Milton incident happened January 30 when the homeowner was up on a ladder with a torch, trying to melt an ice dam on the front corner of his house. The house caught fire. The fire spread quickly. Deputy Fire Chief John Earner told WCVB-TV the flames tore through the whole attic. It took hours to put out. Nobody got hurt, but the house got destroyed.
This came right after a brutal winter storm dumped heavy snow and thick ice across a huge chunk of the country. Parts of the Boston area got more than 20 inches of snow between January 25 and 27, with more falling since then. So you can understand why people are desperate to clear ice and snow off their roofs. What is hard to understand is why they think blowtorches are the answer.
This Is Not a New Problem
Fire officials have been begging people for years not to use open flames to melt ice on their homes. And yet, here we are again.
In December 2025, a homeowner in Peoria, Illinois set his porch on fire using a propane kit to melt ice. Firefighters put it out fast and everyone got out safely, but still—porch fire.
In Cincinnati in January 2025, a man set his porch on fire while using a torch to thaw ice on his outside steps. The smoke spread through the house. The fire stayed contained to the exterior, so that's something. But it caused nearly $100,000 in damages. Nobody got hurt, but a hundred grand in damage because of ice on some steps.
Then there's the woman in Racine, Wisconsin in 2021 who told fire officials she was heating rubbing alcohol on the stove to melt ice on her car. It caught fire. She tried carrying the flaming pan outside—already a terrible plan—then tripped and spilled burning alcohol on an area rug. One person got injured.
In 2019, the Kennewick Police Department in Washington had to issue what they called a "friendly reminder to homeowners not to attempt to melt ice during this winter season with any type of open flame." They had to say this because a resident tried melting ice on their front porch using a propane weed-burning torch and set the front of the house on fire.
The Obvious Thing Nobody Should Have to Say
Don't use fire to melt ice on your house. Don't use blowtorches. Don't heat rubbing alcohol on the stove. Don't use propane kits. Just don't.
Yes, ice dams are a problem. Yes, heavy snow on roofs can cause collapses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the risk of a roof collapsing depends on the building's characteristics—materials, geometry, etc—and snow density, which varies from storm to storm. Snow removal can prevent collapses and leaks, so homeowners want to act fast.
But fire is not the answer. Fire has never been the answer. Fire will never be the answer.
How to Actually Remove Snow Safely
FEMA recommends consulting a local building inspector or qualified designer to figure out if snow removal is even necessary. If it is, they say a professional should handle it using proper precautions. Hiring someone who knows what they're doing sounds expensive, but it's cheaper than rebuilding your house after burning it down.
If homeowners insist on doing it themselves, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency says use a snow rake or plastic shovel while wearing protective headgear and goggles. Start from the edge and work your way up the roof, shoveling snow over the side of the building. Clean all gutters and drains of ice, snow, and debris.
Try to shave the snow down to 2 or 3 inches on the roof instead of scraping it completely clean, which risks damaging shingles or other roof covering. Don't stand on the roof or place heavy equipment on it unless a registered engineer approves. Be careful with ladders since ice builds up on the rungs.
Bottom Line
If you've got ice on your roof, call a professional. If you can't afford a professional, use a snow rake. If you don't have a snow rake, buy one. They're way cheaper than rebuilding a house. What you should not do, under any circumstances, is point fire at your home and hope for the best.
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