An American resident living in Edinburgh was surprised when he saw a worker using a ‘flame thrower’ on the street. Ed, who moved from Los Angeles to Scotland in 2023, has been sharing his experiences in the capital city on TikTok. In the video he posted online, Ed admitted that he wasn’t sure what the worker was doing, but mentioned that anything could happen in ‘this crazy country of Scotland’.
The video shows a man in bright orange safety clothing holding what looks like a ‘flame thrower’ aimed at the road. Ed observed that there were a lot of leaves on the ground after Storm Ashley, leading him to believe that the man might be using the ‘flame thrower’ as a leaf blower. He mentioned, “Edinburgh council workmen were using some type of flamethrower to either clear leaves from the recent storm or to soften asphalt for some type of road work, either is plausible in this crazy country of Scotland.”
While some viewers in the comments agreed that it was probably related to road work, others had their own theories. One person suggested that they might be using the ‘flame thrower’ to dry the leaves, making it easier to blow them away. Another comment joked, “That guy is looking to work longer – not harder.” Someone else humorously compared it to pretending to do gardening.
However, another viewer speculated that the ‘flame thrower’ could be used to prepare the surface for paint, while another thought it might be for prepping the road for new line markings. The variety of responses showed the curiosity and confusion surrounding the unusual sight in the Edinburgh street.
It’s not every day that you see a ‘flame thrower’ being used in a public area, and Ed’s video captured the attention and imagination of viewers online. The unexpected scene sparked discussions and theories about the purpose of the tool and added a touch of intrigue to Edinburgh’s everyday life. The incident serves as a reminder that sometimes, even the most ordinary tasks can appear extraordinary when seen through a different lens.
