By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — Police officers spoke to a resident in the 17000 block of Cedarlawn Street, who accidentally started a fire in his basement the night of Aug. 14, when a spark ignited the foam sealant/insulation he was applying near his hot water tank.
The resultant fire burned a section of the basement wall. The victim said he thought he had turned off the pilot light, and he did not detect the smell of natural gas.
Firefighters at the scene confirmed that it did not appear to be an arson fire.