Weapons of the winter war

On Monday evening, we were watching a news story about how much better the state and local public works departments handled Monday's (modest) snowstorm. I remarked that, for narrow streets, instead of plows, they ought to use flame throwers. I didn't realize that I was 35 years behind the times. (The ad is from 1972.)

Update: This article, in the 1/20/08 Boston Globe, describes how New York and Toronto use, and Boston does not use, snow-melting equipment to clear the streets.