FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
A "bug bomb" turned out to be the real thing at a home in south Fresno on Wednesday.
Firefighters thought they were on their way to a house fire only to find a
garage door blown out and windows glass shattered across the grass. It turns
out the homeowners had set off a "bug bomb" in the house to get rid
of pests, only it appears they overlooked one thing.
"Yeah, you know what the warnings are right on them and they're a very
common device used, and many times they can be used improperly with an ignition
source close by. Folks can get away with it, but I would really recommend that
if you use them in your structure to make sure your pilot lights are all shut
off," said Captain Timothy Pilegard of the Fresno City Fire Department.
Fortunately no one was hurt and firefighters say the house was still in good
condition despite the size of the explosion.
So what is a "bug bomb" and how do you use it safely?
It's just a can of pesticide with a pull tag on the top so you can set it down,
pull it and leave while the pesticide sprays out, settles and does its work.
To do that safely, experts say:
-Read and follow all directions on the label
-Use only the number of bug bombs you need for the space you're trying to treat
-Cover all food and children's toys before you set it off
-And turn off all sources of sparks or flames because they can trigger an
explosion if they meet the pesticide.
Then leave but make sure you wipe off all food prep areas and air out the
room when you come back. Also make sure to store bug bombs and all pesticides
safely out of reach of children.
