subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Nov 23 2009 

Published: August 03, 2008 11:52 pm    print this story  

FALLS EXPLOSION: Gas slowly filled home from broken underground line

Greater Niagara Newspapers

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Highly flammable propane fumes slowly filled a Beechwood Road home for several hours before the bungalow exploded Wednesday, killing one woman inside.

Now the Niagara Falls Fire Department has determined the blast and fatal fire was caused by a puncture in an underground propane line.

Assistant Chief Jim Jessop said the propane line was broken by a piece of rebar. The metal support bar also nicked a satellite conduit that connected the line to the home.

“The force and pressure of the propane coming out of the main cylinder forced its way into the conduit and filled with house with propane,” Jessop said. “When the propane reached its explosive limit, it resulted in the tragic explosion.”

Police have not released the name of the victim, but a man described as a family friend identified the woman as Sharmaine Rudan.

There were no natural gas lines on the rural property. Fuel from a private propane line was used to heat the home and power appliances.

Propane gas has no smell, but for safety reasons an ingredient is added to give it the distinctive odor of rotten eggs. However, according to fire officials that smell may not be present if a line has broken underground.

The case is now in the hands of the Ministry of Labor and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority to determine if charges will be laid.

There were no hydrants, so the first firefighters on the scene drew water from a swimming pool on the property.

Alison Langley, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Review

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

PHONE SALES
PHONE sales, great pay, exp. a plus, nice NT office, FT/PT, hrly. +, Pete or Mike, 694-1251...>MORE

MST Therapists
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
MST
...>MORE

Grill Cook
GRILL COOK & Waitresses, exp only, full time. Apply within 2021 Main St. Nia Falls ...>MORE

Hospitality/Tourism Instructor
Hospitality/Tourism. NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time instructor to teach hospita...>MORE

BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE

Customer Service
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Altitude Marketing is one of Dish Network’s top national retailers and has immediate FT customer
...>MORE

Cook
COOK full time.
Apply in person only,
Augie’s Diner,
2470 Military Rd.
...>MORE

SHIPPING CLERK
Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE

Maintenance Technician
MAINTENANCE Technician, FT, exp. needed in electrical, plumbing, heating & cooling, Apply in person bet. 9 & 5 at 6751 ...>MORE

Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly
Production & Cleaning
1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts
Sanborn, Grand Island
Amherst & Tona
...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Monte Carlo Z24 1998
MONTE CARLO Z24, 1998, runs good, average miles, excellent shape, $1800 , 990-2303...>MORE

Ford 1998 F150
FORD 1998 F150, standard cab, 4wd, excellent shape, $3495.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE

1999 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1999 Caravan, 33, V6, auto, A/C, 99k miles, good cond., runs great. $1950. 525-7796...>MORE

See all ads

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index