Meat smoker sparks $15,000 fire
A Beeliar man’s excessive use of methylated spirits to smoke homemade biltong was blamed for a garage fire that caused $15,000 damage.
Firefighters were called to a Gecko Terrace property about 1pm when a camper trailer caught fire in the garage.
It was sparked when the sawdust and methylated spirits the owner was using to cold-smoke the meat ignited.
“He’s used excessive methylated spirits in the sawdust which he had burning at the bottom of the tray,” a Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said.
“He had a fan situated at the top to draw the smoke out. The whole thing has flashed and caught alight and so has the camper trailer parked alongside.”
Firefighters quickly brought the flames under control but not before the man’s camper trailer and fridge sustained considerable damage.
