Posted on 10/10/2013 5:41:53 AM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
HOPKINTON — A safe full of fireworks and an acetylene torch caused an explosion that took the lives of two men who police said were attempting an early morning burglary at a landscaping company.
Lucas Burke, 21, of Allenstown and Ethan Keeler, 20, of Epsom died in a blast at New Yard Landscaping at 67 Farrington Corner Road.
According to the state fire marshal’s office, “the two males were attempting to gain entry into a closed metal container which contained consumer fireworks using an oxy-acetylene cutting torch when the blast occurred. The investigation has revealed that the two victims did not have permission to be on the property.”
Thomas Komisarek, owner of New Yard Landscaping, said the container was a safe.
“The whole thing went up and blew their bodies apart,” Komisarek said.
Police were called to the business around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday after a neighbor reported the explosion. The Fire Marshal’s Office investigated and found the two bodies inside the building.
According to Concord police records, Ethan Keeler was arrested July 20 on a warrant and charged with forgery and theft by deception. He was released on $15,000 personal recognizance bail.
Arthur Boneceto, who lives around the corner from the landscaping company, said he didn’t hear the blast, but became worried about Komisarek, his former student at Pembroke Academy, when he heard the news reports.
“When I heard that two people got killed, I was worried about him,” Boneceto said Wednesday while stopping by the company to see Komisarek. “I just want to make sure he’s OK.”
According to Keeler’s obituary,he attended Pembroke Academy, where he played on the high school golf team. A memorial service for Keeler is planned for Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Still Oaks Funeral & Memorial Home in Epsom. The family has requested that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Phoenix House in Keene, a residential drug and alcohol treatment center.
Komisarek said the building was a total loss, but he was heading out to do a job on Wednesday morning.
“I have to go to work,” he said. “There’s nothing else I can do.”
Darwin candidates for sure.......
Sounds like a happy ending, but... hmmm... fireworks?
Personally, I’d have guessed ammo.
They won’t make that mistake again
Well, at least they died doing what they loved.
Bwahahaha!
Dude, light a match I can’t find the gas cap on my car.
BOOM
Darwin? I double Darwin dare you!
A lot of people like to think that will happen, but it won't. You'll get a small flame at the opening, that's all.
They put them in the safe to keep them SAFE. You can buy expensive fireworks here in NH. Literally, $60-80 or more a pop.
You can not buy Class A fireworks, but pretty close.
I don’t see ammo being set off this way unless the torch hits the brass directly. Even then it probably would be just that one round or maybe a handful.
A canister of black powder or maybe some dynamite???
Stupid hurts
Sounds like something out of a Daffy Duck cartoon
That’s a lot like lighting a match to see if there’s any gas in the tank.
Keep his kids from using them up...
I am going to test your knowledge on this so I’ll take your word on it.
So some idiot tossing a cigarette away in the wrong place is less likely to blow up the place?
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