Man tries to kill spider, sets house on fire instead

A Seattle house was set on fire Tuesday night by a man trying to kill a spider with a makeshift blowtorch, firefighters said. The man who rented the house was trying to kill a spider in the laundry room with a can of spray paint and a lighter, authorities said. The flames quickly spread through the room and into the attic. “I saw flames coming out of the side of the house and heard popping sounds,” said neighbor Sue Green. Fire crews worried there could be ammunition in the house. They told neighbors to go back inside. The threat of explosives in the house was later ruled out.