Plumber's Torch Blamed for Starting Fire that Destroyed 8 Arizona Apartments

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A plumber's torch likely started a two-alarm fire that caused $1 million in damage and destroyed eight apartments here, authorities said.

Wednesday's blaze left five families homeless, though they were being relocated to other vacant apartments at the 359-unit complex called The Woods at Midvale Park.

The three other apartments that burned were vacant. No one was injured.

Plumbers using a propane torch for sweating copper pipe at one of the apartments probably caught the inside of a wall on fire without noticing, said Deputy Chief Patrick Quinn of the Tucson Fire Department.

Information from: Arizona Daily Star