Massachusetts has had some very frigid conditions lately, and people are doing what they can to keep themselves warm. As such, it seems we're hearing about residential fires regularly. There were recently two fires in Lee, one likely caused by a wood stove, and the other is still being investigated. In addition, an elderly woman recently died in a house fire in Pittsfield, which is also still being investigated.

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Now, nobody is claiming that any of these fires occurred over carelessness or foolishness, but it is important that when weather-proofing your home for the extreme cold, you follow safety precautions. Caulking cracks, weather stripping doors and windows, letting faucets drip, disconnecting and draining hoses, and shutting off exterior water spigots are all great and safe ways to weather-proof your home paticulalrly before the winter season hits.

Massachusetts Homeowner Takes a Blowtorch to Ice on His Roof...It Didn't Go Well

One thing you never, ever want to do is try to thaw out frozen pipes or melt ice from your roof with a blowtorch. That is a big no. A Milton resident found this out the hard way recently when he accidentally set his house on fire.

READ MORE: Massachusetts Recommends Kids Stay Indoors at This Temperature

As you can see from the video, the homeowner wasn't injured, but this serves as a good lesson...don't take a blowtorch to your house, not in the winter, not anytime of the year. If you do that, you're playing with fire, pardon the pun. Call a professional ice removal service and let them handle the ice issues.

LOOKS: Things you'd likely see in an awesomely '80s garage

From scandalous bikini calendars to your dad's AMC Gremlin, '80s garages were a treasure trove of adventure, good fun, and sometimes downright danger.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: 35 Vintage Cereals That Perfectly Captured Pop Culture Moments

Movies and TV shows have always found ways to partner with cereal companies as part of their promotion strategy. While some may have come up with a giveaway in boxes, others went big by having their own cereal connected to the movie or TV show title. Here are vintage cereals that were used to promote some of pop culture's biggest moments (and some you probably forgot about).

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

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