Homeowner attempts to thaw frozen pipes led to accidental house fires that left two Ames families homeless Thursday and forced local firefighters to battle nearly simultaneous blazes in zero-degree temperatures.

Firefighters responded to the first blaze at 10:30 a.m. after Brandon Zenger, 1004 Garfield Ave., attempted to thaw frozen pipes in his kitchen with a propane torch. The fire started in the house’s walls, said Clare Bills, public relations officer for the City of Ames.

The fire then quickly spread throughout the one-story wood frame house that, according to the city assessor, was constructed in 1915. Assessor records show the home to be owned by Victoria Cunningham.

City authorities said although Zenger attempted to put out the fire himself before calling for help, he escaped the blaze.

“Both fires were fully involved, but there was no life safety issue,” said Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen as he explained why both fires were extinguished from the outside only. “There was a total loss of contents [at both locations] before we arrived.”

The Garfield Avenue home was surrounded by trees, but Petersen said he was not terribly concerned about them catching fire, even though they were dry, because not enough heat was being emitted by the flames.

Beneath the porch of the home, a purple toddler’s bicycle glimmered with water droplets that froze quickly in temperatures that ranged from 0 to 2 degrees Fahrenheit with minus 5-degree Fahrenheit wind chill.

“You can’t help but feel sorry for the people who live there,” said neighbor John Homer, 3812 Phoenix St. “All of their stuff is going up in flames.”

Authorities estimated the damages between $80,000 to $120,000.

Just as the cleanup was beginning on Garfield Avenue, another call sent a quickly-assembled crew dashing across town. At 11:50 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire at Old Orchard Mobile Home Park, 111 Apple Place, after Peter Bergum attempted to thaw frozen pipes in his home, also with a propane torch.

The Bergum residence had been for sale by owner since June. Bergum said he had lived there nearly five years. The fire started after “cobwebs under the house caught fire … it went into the insulation,” he said.

Bergum stood behind the 10 Ames firefighters who attempted to extinguish the fire that claimed the home he shared with his wife, young son and dogs. Border collie Jack and collie-cross Kaluha, watched from inside Bergum’s Jeep.

Authorities estimated the damages between $60,000 to $70,000.

The Story County Red Cross was on the scene to provide aid to both families.

Colleen Daly, emergency services specialist, said both of the families who lost their homes Thursday had insurance. The Zenger family declined to accept aid, but the Bergums received vouchers for clothing, baby food and formula they may use at Wal-Mart and Cub Foods.

Because all Ames firefighters were involved in the two house fires, a crew from the Nevada Fire Department was dispatched to Ames Fire Station One in case another call came in, Petersen said. Officials confirmed there were no injuries at either location but both homes were declared total losses.

Bergum said his family will stay with relatives in Boone, until they “figure something out. We were looking to buy a house anyway.”