Residents of an apartment in Washington started a small fire by using a makeshift flamethrower in hopes of killing cockroaches. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished by the time fire officials arrived at the scene. Photo by Art_Photo/Shutterstock

CENTRALIA, Wash., Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Fire officials say a makeshift flamethrower meant to kill cockroaches was the cause of an apartment fire in Washington state.

Fire crews responded to the scene on Monday morning after a small house fire was reported in Centralia.


The residents had reportedly attempted to use bug spray and a lighter as a makeshift flamethrower in order to kill cockroaches.

According to KOMO, no one was injured and the small fire had already been extinguished when fire crews responded to the scene.