'I think salt is easier': Markham man uses blow torch to 'shovel' driveway

Markham neighbour posts pictures of man's attempt to avoid shovelling on social media

Yorkregion.com
January 22, 2020
Jeremy Grimaldi

A heart-attack is one risk associated with shoveling the driveway, but one Markham man has brought a whole new set of risks to the much derided Canadian activity.

It was during the most recent winter dump that one Instagram user loaded an image of a Markham man using a blow torch in a bid to rid himself of the vestiges of packed snow at the foot of his driveway.

Former Vaughan fire chief Larry Bentley said although not as unsafe as it might seem, he believes there's likely much easier ways to deal with the winter obligation.

"An open flame can be hazardous," Bentley, who was a firefighter for 38.5 years and a chief in York Region for five, said. "What if there's some combustible material around that catches alight? Although we used to use a blowtorch to melt the ice when our trucks used to be frozen, but overall I think salt would be easier."