Quote Originally Posted by Wood Butcher View Post
I was living in Texas at the time (Dallas area), and it was during one of the hottest and driest part of the summer. I was outside the garage doing some fabrication work (cutting, welding and grinding) since I wanted to keep the grit away from my machine tools.
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Lesson learned...when doing any kind of spark-generating work around dry vegetation, thoroughly water down any place where you think a spark has even a remote chance of landing. And keep the hose close.
Not in the workshop, but related, 2 items:

1) Just for the record; Catalina Island Fire of 2007:

2007 Island Fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"According to Associated Press, the blaze was started by contractors cutting steel wire with a torch for day-time only AM radio station, KBRT.[3]"


2) Courthouse in Pittsboro, NC burned down, because of some hot work in the attic:

"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsboro,_North_Carolina#Chatham_County_Courthouse_fire"


Gee, fire watch anyone?