A man using a blowtorch to weed a flowerbed Sunday morning, April 3, accidentally set fire to the century-old home where he was living.
Crews responded to the blaze at 1890 Nolte Road at about 11 a.m., said Randy VanderHeiden, assistant chief for Whatcom County Fire District 1. They later learned the fire started shortly after the occupant, Randy Velthuizen, had used a propane torch to burn away weeds near the northeast corner of the two-story house.
Velthuizen, 53, standing outside the home late Monday morning, said it was wet outside when he started burning weeds at about 10 a.m. Sunday.
He’s lived at the house for about 20 years, and the home is about 120 years old, he said. He’s burned weeds the same way before.