A wasp nest removal attempt in central Japan escalated into a fire that ended up damaging two buildings on the property, News on Japan reported.
A person working on the removal suffered minor injuries, and the home of a 79-year-old resident was among the structures damaged.
Here's what to know
Police said the blaze began at about 8:30 a.m. on October 12 at the Kurokawa district home of 79-year-old Daiji Kato in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture.
A self-employed worker was trying to eliminate a wasp nest at the property when the job turned into a house fire.
Investigators said the worker was using a commercially sold insecticidal smoke product that is lit to release smoke and kill wasps. The flames apparently reached Kato's wooden, single-story main house during the operation.
About three hours passed before firefighters brought the fire under control, and officials said both the main house and a separate two-story wooden building on the property were damaged.
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Startled by the fire, the worker fell from a ladder and sustained minor injuries.
News On Japan stated that Kato lives with his 70-year-old wife and their 46-year-old second son. None of the family members were hurt.
More background
Wildlife encounters can become more dangerous when animals build nests in or near human-made spaces and people respond with tools or tactics that create an added hazard.
Nests attached to human structures like homes and sheds can turn removal work into a fire risk when wooden structures and smoke are involved. And even when taking the utmost care, accidents can still happen.
What's being done?
Authorities are investigating the fire's circumstances.
Investigators believe the flames spread to the house during the nest removal work, but they are still trying to determine the exact sequence of events.
Police are investigating how the commercially available insecticidal smoke device created the residential fire in the meantime.
Where can I learn more?
Preventable hazards tied to fires and smoke in and around homes can pop up frequently.
• A homeowner said neighbors ignited a massive fire feet from the property, leaving it uninhabitable.
• A resident said a neighbor's constant smoke and burning pushed life at home to the brink.
• After wildfires, scientists found homes act like a trap for lingering indoor toxins.
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