Fire Sale

In our local news today I read an amazing story. Not too much ever happens here in Nowhereville, Florida. At least nothing that makes the news. A week ago a dog bit a small child, it was one of those vicious Pomeranians. This was the top story for the week.

In weeks past there have been several stories about mortgage foreclosures and the housing market being on the downturn. Many newly built homes lie vacant, even though the builders have reduced their asking price for the properties. Thus lowering the value of the currently inhabited properties.

But I digress!

Today’s top story was about a fire that caused $100,000 damage to a local home. That was probably more than 50% of the home’s value. Fortunately the owners of this house were not at home. A neighbor heard several alarms going off in the home, so the neighbor called 911.

The thing that amazes me is that the firefighters determined that a laptop computer sitting on top a pile of papers in the kitchen started the fire.

Here’s what bothers me about their conclusion. The flash point of paper is 350 degrees C or 662 degrees F. and the ignition temperature of paper is 450 degrees C or 842 degrees F. I have dropped a lit cigarette on paper and it never ignited it just burned a hole through it.

I’m not buying the firefighters conclusion and hope that the County’s Arson Squad doesn’t either. It seems too much like an easy way to get out of a high mortgage on an overpriced house.

The Beach Bum