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Fire damages Kurt Browning’s Toronto mansion (Burns down mansion with leaf blower)
Globe and Mail ^ | Aug. 19, 2010 | Ciara Byrne

Posted on 08/19/2010 6:40:02 PM PDT by tlb

What may have started as an attempt to dry out car with a leaf blower ends in a three-alarm blaze in Forest Hill.

A fire that ripped through figure skater Kurt Browning's mansion Wednesday and destroyed part of the roof may have caused up to $1-million in damage, officials said.

Dozens of firefighters battled the three-alarm blaze that broke out at the home in the upscale Forest Hill neighbourhood just before 11 a.m.

It was deemed under control around 2 p.m., but left behind serious damage to the house and a partially collapsed roof.

It's not known what caused the fire, but moments before, a man believed to be Mr. Browning was trying to dry the seats of his convertible when the fire started, a fire official said.

“He was using a leaf blower to try to get some air flowing through there to dry them out and when he returned he found the car in flames,” Toronto Fire Services Division Commander Bob O'Hallarn said at the scene.

Eighteen fire trucks and about 80 firefighters were on scene at the height of the blaze.

“There appears to be a fair amount of damage on the ground floor, and the second floor on the southern part of the property,” Capt. Strapko said.

“I don't know the dollar loss yet,” he said, adding it was probably going to be anywhere from hundreds of thousands dollars to $1-million.

Mr. Browning is a Canadian figure skating legend who has won world championships and Canadian championships.

He is the co-host of the CBC’s hit reality show Battle of the Blades.

(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...


TOPICS: Sports; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: canada; fire; skater; tools
It's true. Some men should never be allowed near power tools.
1 posted on 08/19/2010 6:40:06 PM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb

I can see why Browning would make himself scarce after an embarrassing incident like this.


2 posted on 08/19/2010 6:42:58 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: tlb

Does Brian Boitano have an alibi?


3 posted on 08/19/2010 6:43:02 PM PDT by jessduntno (Is Barack the Kenyan word for barracks? You know, a place where many men are lodged?)
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I shouldn’t giggle at this, but I can just see Tim Allen doing this and yelling
“More Power!!!!”


4 posted on 08/19/2010 6:52:40 PM PDT by sanjoaquinvalley (Longtime Lady Lurker)
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To: tlb

Surely he was not using a gasoline powered leaf blower...


5 posted on 08/19/2010 7:39:36 PM PDT by Clay Moore (The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: Clay Moore

LOL! My husband just said it was probably a gas-powered blower when I read the story to him.


6 posted on 08/19/2010 7:48:12 PM PDT by Montanabound
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To: jessduntno

What would Brian Boitano do?


7 posted on 08/19/2010 7:56:34 PM PDT by BBell
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To: tlb
Does this qualify for maybe half a Darwin Award? I know Kurt didn't croak or anything, but he probably DID say "hold muh skates"..........

Leni

8 posted on 08/19/2010 7:56:54 PM PDT by MinuteGal (Bill O'R - 10/20/09 "BHO is not a Marxist"....8/5/10 "Classroom nutrition should be legislated")
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To: tlb

Did he have Johnny Weir over?


9 posted on 08/19/2010 8:15:08 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: jessduntno

What Would Brian Boitano Do?


10 posted on 08/19/2010 8:19:15 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Clay Moore

I have never owned a leaf blower, nor used one. What would be the danger of a gas-powered blower in this situation?


11 posted on 08/19/2010 8:21:52 PM PDT by rabidralph
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