Attempt to thaw pipes with propane heater leads to house fire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, home was badly burned Tuesday in a fire caused by a propane heater used to thaw pipes in the crawl space, authorities say.

Firefighters were called to the 800 block of West Monroe Street a little before 10 a.m. and found a fire under the house that had spread to some interior walls, according to a Mexico Department of Public Safety news release.

The residents said they were trying to thaw pipes using a portable propane heater under the house, according to the release. The residents "stepped away for a short amount of time" and returned to find flammable material burning in the crawl space, the release says.

The call was similar to one two days before in the 800 block of Morris Street, where firefighters arrived to find a fire under a home. The fire had started with an electric heater being used to thaw pipes that caught fire after apparently drawing too much power through an extension cord, the department said.

Boone County firefighters were also called Monday to a house that caught fire when a propane heater was used in the crawl space to heat frozen pipes.