Posted on 02/17/2024 10:30:54 AM PST by dynachrome
A Virginia firefighter was killed and others were injured after a house exploded Friday evening, officials said.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded to the home in Sterling around 7:40 p.m. for an investigation, and firefighters were inside when the home exploded, Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams said.
"Total devastation," is how Williams described the scene and damage. "There's a debris field well into the street and into the neighboring homes."
Officials initially said nine firefighters suffered injuries that ranged from serious to less severe. Loudoun County Fire said Saturday that 11 first responders and two civilians had been injured. All had varying degrees of injuries, with four first responders remaining in the hospital.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Says there was a report of natural gas smell before the explosion.
it’s pretty easy to shut off the gas and evacuate.
A 500-gallon underground propane tank located next to the house had been leaking.
Yeah, the gas must have filled the basement(?) before torching off.
Those gas leaks are just horrible many yrs ago a house here in LA was being renovated but the workers never shut off the gas they hit the line and the house blew up a few workers were killed
“Says there was a report of natural gas smell before the explosion.”
So much for new gas hookups in Virginia...
The underground tanks are more dangerous but sometimes mandated for appearance rules.
Wasn’t there another ho0use that blew up in VA a few months ago?
Underground propane can leak and filter along the buried feed pipe to the house. Fill a basement.
Underground oil tanks can never result in an explosion.
But underground oil tanks can leak and leach into the water table.
To me, whether for heat or a generator, an above ground diesel/oil tank are the safest. You can see any leaks and nothing to go boom.
Propane is not “natural gas”, Heavier than air vs lighter than air. Both can go boom if in a confined area with an ignition source!
Prayers up.
Landlord came to day and removed my old grill with propane tank. Since out there so long I asked he remove it.
Could have been a homeowner trying to DIY an install or a repair...
For anyone else curious...
https://up.codes/viewer/virginia/va-fire-code-2012/chapter/61/liquefied-petroleum-gases#61
Whaddya mean garden hose isn’t rated for gas use?
If it had a propane tank, why this?
“Utility Washington Gas was at the scene and assisted in the investigation.”
Far as I know Washington Gas doesn’t install or service propane tanks. If a house has a natural gas line, it usually doesn’t need a propane tank.
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