Homes

Teenager sets apartment block ablaze trying to kill a bed bug

He caused over $300,000 damage and eight people lost their homes.
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Sometimes you see a spider so big you contemplate packing your bags, moving out and changing the deeds to the spider’s name. When you’re feeling a little less benevolent, you think about just setting the whole house on fire and calling it a day.

A young lad in the US decided the second route was the best way to go and set fire to his entire apartment building while trying to a kill a bed bug.

Emergency services were called to a Cincinnati apartment block at 11pm on Tuesday after a fire engulfed six apartments.

The 13-year-old caused $300,000 worth of damage after dousing the bug in alcohol and throwing a match at it.

Eight people have now lost their homes and the Red Cross is trying to find housing for three adults and five kids.

No news yet on whether the bed bug survived.

“This was accidental. He wasn’t in there just playing with matches. It wasn’t the smartest thing, obviously, but he was trying to get rid of a bed bug,” said District 3 Chief Marc Monahan.

The kid has a point though, bed bugs suck and over their lifetime, females lay hundreds of eggs.

They live in your mattress, bed frame, box springs or head board – basically nowhere is safe.

Wanted to have a good sleep tonight? Too bad because these suckers will pierce your skin with an elongated beak for three to ten minutes until they’re fully engorged.

Unlike old mate firestarter however, if you think you have bed bugs, try not to set your entire house ablaze. Instead clean all the bedding, linen, curtains and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest temperature setting.

Or just move out.

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