A Father's Ingenious—and Smoky—Wire-Burning Solution

An Armenian-American recalls a childhood memory of his father's unconventional approach to stripping copper wire for scrap metal sales. Unable to access a wire-stripping device, the resourceful father designed a dual-purpose backyard fireplace that would simultaneously burn off wire coatings while roasting shish kebab. The contraption featured a lower grill for the wire and an upper section for cooking meat. During its maiden run, the colored wire coatings produced a rainbow flame—red, blue, and green—creating an unexpectedly beautiful but toxic display. The resulting smoke-infused kebab fell short of the family's usual standards. The mother, unimpressed with the experiment, requested her husband purchase a conventional charcoal grill and dismantle the fireplace. The author reflects on how environmental concerns were minimal in that era, and notes he suffered no apparent lasting effects from the exposure.