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SAN FRANCISCO – An amateur pyrotechnician was arrested by police last weekend after staging an impromptu fire show in the Sunset District during the early morning hours.
At 3 a.m. on Saturday at the 800 block of Judah Street, police found a 31-year-old man standing on the top of a pickup truck while wielding a homemade flamethrower that was shooting balls of fire four feet into the air, according to Capt. Paul Chignell of the Taraval Police Station.
The man had obtained a couple of cylindrical tanks, possibly containing propane, and connected them with hoses to a metal outlet that directed the flames, Chignell said. Each time the man pulled the device’s trigger, a spout of fire would erupt.
“This guy had a yellow fireman’s jacket on and was just randomly shooting flames into the air,” Chignell said.
Neighbors frightened by the display called the police, who arrested the man on counts of wielding an explosive device on a public street and possessing a flammable device with intent to maliciously use it, Chignell said.
The man offered up no explanation for what he was doing, said Chignell. No one was injured in the incident, but Chignell said the suspect’s bizarre behavior put a lot of nearby residents at risk.
“Obviously, the potential for damage is pretty incredible with a rigging like this,” said Chignell. “Sometimes you just have to wonder what some people are thinking.”
SAN FRANCISCO – An amateur pyrotechnician was arrested by police last weekend after staging an impromptu fire show in the Sunset District during the early morning hours.
At 3 a.m. on Saturday at the 800 block of Judah Street, police found a 31-year-old man standing on the top of a pickup truck while wielding a homemade flamethrower that was shooting balls of fire four feet into the air, according to Capt. Paul Chignell of the Taraval Police Station.
The man had obtained a couple of cylindrical tanks, possibly containing propane, and connected them with hoses to a metal outlet that directed the flames, Chignell said. Each time the man pulled the device’s trigger, a spout of fire would erupt.
“This guy had a yellow fireman’s jacket on and was just randomly shooting flames into the air,” Chignell said.
Neighbors frightened by the display called the police, who arrested the man on counts of wielding an explosive device on a public street and possessing a flammable device with intent to maliciously use it, Chignell said.
The man offered up no explanation for what he was doing, said Chignell. No one was injured in the incident, but Chignell said the suspect’s bizarre behavior put a lot of nearby residents at risk.
“Obviously, the potential for damage is pretty incredible with a rigging like this,” said Chignell. “Sometimes you just have to wonder what some people are thinking.”
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Thu, December 11, 2008 - 7:59 PMHere's what they are thinking - SAFETY THIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Thu, December 11, 2008 - 9:55 PMI thought Safety was pushed to 4th,, and bacon took 3rd...
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 12, 2008 - 7:34 AMEeek! This sounds like Bellboy's flamethrower! Good thing we live in the warehouse district of East Oakland--no one gives a rat's ass!!
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 12, 2008 - 11:55 AMThose SF hermits scare so easy. I say we go in mass tomorrow and scare them some more? -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 12, 2008 - 12:50 PMYeah--take a flamethrower, Razor....I dare ya....go on.... -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 12, 2008 - 8:52 PMWhat is the worse that can happen? -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 19, 2008 - 5:09 PMIf my flamethrower was only capable of shooting 4 feet into the air... I'd be too embarrassed to even be seen with it. -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Fri, December 19, 2008 - 5:11 PMI hate not being able to edit posts. No offense intended to Bellboy... Maybe his compressor is on the fritz. -
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Re: This was one of you, wasn't it?
Sun, February 15, 2009 - 2:00 PMWASNT ME!! AND my neighbors love it when we break out our flamethrower here in san jose!!
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