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Attempt to thaw frozen pipes destroys family home

Posted at 5:26 PM, Jan 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-24 17:37:20-05

IONIA COUNTY, Mich. — Frigid temperatures across West Michigan are causing a number of issues with frozen pipes.

An Ionia County family has a warning after an effort to thaw their pipes destroyed their home.

Nick Lamoreaux says he took matters into his own hands and used a torpedo heater to thaw frozen pipes, but instead sparked a devastating fire.

It happened Monday afternoon on Button Road in Ionia County.

"Our pipes had froze, and I was trying to thaw them out. I was using a torpedo heater. I was not using a blow torch. I am a contractor I know better than that," said Lamoreaux.

The heater he used, which runs on kerosene, produced too much heat and sparked flames near the master bedroom of the mobile home. The fire destroyed everything inside.

"Pictures that are never going to be recoverable. Clothes, furniture, appliances. None of us walked away with anything out of it," said Lamoreaux.

Lamoreaux and his family are grateful everyone got out alive, even the family pets. He doesn't have insurance and says they lost tens of thousands of dollars.

There is a GoFundMe page if you'd like to help.