Painter's heat gun blamed for starting fire at Springfield home

by The Republican Newsroom

Thursday May 21, 2009, 1:04 PM

Photo by Dennis Leger / Springfield Fire DepartmentSpringfield firefighters work on the roof of 192 Ambrose St. Thursday morning. A painter using a heat gun to remove paint is being blamed for sparking the blaze that caused an estimated $25,000 in damage.

By GEORGE GRAHAM
ggraham@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - A painter's heat gun inadvertently sparked a blaze late Thursday morning that caused some $25,000 in damage to an Ambrose Street home.

No injuries were reported in the blaze at 192 Ambrose St. It was reported shortly before 11 a.m., Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis G. Leger said.

The painter had been using the heat gun to remove paint at the roof line under the gutter when the blaze began and extended into the attic, Leger said.

The property is owned by Wonderlyn Murphy, Leger said.