NDG home nearly burns down as worker thaws frozen pipes

CTV Montreal Published Tuesday, March 3, 2015 8:07PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, March 3, 2015 9:47PM EST

A city subcontractor hired to thaw frozen pipes nearly set a house in NDG-Cote-des-Neiges on fire last month.

The record-setting cold this season has been breaking water mains and freezing pipes all across the island, forcing the City of Montreal to hire private contractors to keep up with demand.

The worker sent an electrical current through the line - a common de-frosting method -- which sent flames into Greg McWhirters home on Harvard Ave.

His pipes frozen, McWhirter, heard a noise in the kitchen and was fortunate enough to act fast.

I saw flames coming up from behind the fridge, he said.

You're shocked! You go into a bit of a panic mode especially when you get a fire and then another fire and then a fire upstairs.

Along with the fridge, small fires started in the dishwasher, inside the furnace room and part of the natural gas line needed to be replaced with signs of heat damage.

It turns out that anything that was hooked up to the water main was passing current, said McWhirter.

His landlord said there was almost $14,000 worth of damage; she feels the borough should pay.

View post:
NDG home nearly burns down as worker thaws frozen pipes