• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Car Upholstery, Rubbing Alcohol and Cigs

April 22, 2015 By Nadeem Muaddi

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Bedbugs Car Fire

Scott Kemery of Bridgehampton, New York, made national headlines last week when he attempted to kill the bedbugs living in his rental car by soaking its upholstery in rubbing alcohol — before lighting a cigarette.

The flammable liquid instantly ignited, setting fire to his car, two other vehicles and even himself.

The New York Post reported:

Kemery told cops he rented the car in Florida for the drive to the Hamptons, where he discovered the critters.

A friend had suggested he try killing the vicious critters by dumping the alcohol on them, the sources said.

“He said he had bedbugs in the car, and someone told him if he saturated them with alcohol, it would kill them,” Suffolk Police Arson Detective Sgt. Edward Fitzgerald told Newsday.

“So he went and bought some alcohol, he poured it all in there and he sat in his car and lit a cigarette,” Fitzgerald added.

Detectives are now trying to determine the vehicle identification number of the burned out vehicle to confirm Kemery’s story, the cop added.

“Everything’s burned up, so we’re going to wait until the vehicle-theft section gets us a confidential VIN number. Then we’ll know for sure,” Fitzgerald said.

The fire doesn’t appear to be criminal in nature, he said. [read more]

Though Kemery, 44, managed to crawl out of the car before it became fully engulfed, he didn’t escape unscathed. According to local news reports, he was rushed by helicopter to a nearby hospital with second-degree burns.

The good news, however, is that he finally got rid of those pesky bedbugs!

In lieu of presenting Kemery with a “Darwin Award,” The Hog Ring is inducting him into our “Hall of Shame.”

Filed Under: Archive, Hall of Shame Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior

Primary Sidebar

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • Hyde Leather
  • Albright's Supply
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • MasterTech Expo 2026
  • Keyston Bros
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring

THR Favorites

How to Build a Display Motorcycle Seat

In April, I wrote an article titled "Why I … [more] about How to Build a Display Motorcycle Seat

The Hog Ring - This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

How would an old school Mercedes-Benz look … [more] about This Car is Upholstered in Persian Rugs

The Hog Ring - Meet Cameron Hayward of North Coast Custom Trim

Meet Cameron Hayward of North Coast Custom Trim

Cameron Hayward honed his skills in … [more] about Meet Cameron Hayward of North Coast Custom Trim

The Hog Ring - Spotlight Customs - Spotlight Coffee

Spotlight Customs Just Launched its Own Coffee Brand

Like most trimmers, we start each day with a … [more] about Spotlight Customs Just Launched its Own Coffee Brand

Top 10 Wacky Car Interiors

We auto upholsterers have seen it all - from … [more] about Top 10 Wacky Car Interiors

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - VW Bus

JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

After converting a 1961 Volkswagen single-cab … [more] about JNG Creations 1961 VW Bus Resto-Rod

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Keyston Bros Drops 10 New Carbon Fiber Vinyl Colors and They Pop
  • Trimmer Michael Andrew Piccolo Dies at 67
  • 2026 SEMA Show Registration Opens May 4
  • Nexus Fastening Co. Introduces Solid Gold Hog Rings for Luxury Cars
  • Everything We Covered in March 2026

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2026 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in