If he is trying to change a flat and the lug nuts are frozen in
more ways than one, this would be an idiots attempt to logically
loosen the lug nuts. The theory being that the nut will expand in
size and therefore be easier to remove, as well as any moisture that
may have frozen in the threads would melt (not likely is there to be
any).
Another possibility is that his brakes have frozen, either due to
water splashed into them, or he put his parking brake on (which should
NEVER be done when the temperature goes below 35 (32) degrees). If
you use your parking brake and enough moisture is between the brake
pad and the disc/drum and the moisture freezes into the pores of the
pad and the grooves in the disc/drum, the only way to correct this is
to have the car towed to a garage and thawed out with a space heater
(I have heard of people using hair driers). If you try to drive the
car and have the engine/transmission force past the frozen brakes you
can literally rip the brakes off of the car (sheer the mechanism off
of its anchors). Instead of using the parking brake you should leave
the car in "counter-gear" (uphill put it in first gear, down hill in
reverse, in front of a parking tire barrier put it in first gear) and
on a hill you should turn the tires.
A blow torch should *NEVER* be used around any equipment that contains a fuel tank.