• 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
  • Albright's Supply
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • MasterTech Expo 2026
  • Keyston Bros
  • Hyde Leather

THR Favorites

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

The Hog Ring - Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Veteran trimmer Luis Loyola of Loyola Auto … [more] about Loyola Auto Interiors Talks Shop and Pride

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - How To Mold Automotive Leather

Pro Tip: How to Mold Automotive Leather

Interested in learning how to wrap virtually … [more] about Pro Tip: How to Mold Automotive Leather

The Hog Ring - Meet Stuart Foster Pagani of SFP Design

Meet Stuart Foster Pagani of SFP Design

Stuart Foster Pagani discovered the craft of … [more] about Meet Stuart Foster Pagani of SFP Design

Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

Most auto upholstery shops repair vehicle … [more] about Repair Dashboards with Vacuum Forming

The Hog Ring - How to fix a skipped stitch

The Easiest Way to Fix a Skipped Stitch

You know what sucks? When your sewing machine … [more] about The Easiest Way to Fix a Skipped Stitch

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Nexus Fastening Co. Introduces Solid Gold Hog Rings for Luxury Cars
  • Everything We Covered in March 2026
  • WyoTech Taps Dominic Olson for Upholstery Program, Installs New NC Machines
  • MasterTech Expo 2026 Draws Global Crowd and Raises the Bar Again
  • Free SEMA Webinar: How to Start Your Own Auto Shop

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