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A man who almost burned his house to the ground had been trying to kill a SPIDER using spray paint and a lighter.

Fire crews in Seattle managed to put out the blaze at a house in the west of the city on Tuesday night, but not before it caused $60,000 worth of damage.

When asked about the cause of the fire, the man living at the property told officials he had been trying to kill a spider in his laundry room using spray paint and a lighter.

The wall caught fire before the blaze spread through the house, local broadcaster Kiro7 reports.

Neighbours were warned to return to their houses as fire crews investigated reports of ammunition in the house, but this was later ruled out.

Resident Kaitlin Sharp said: “There were giant clouds of smoke pouring out of the windows."

The Red Cross is said to be supporting the man who can no longer live in his home while repairs are carried out.