Grandmother, grandson killed in Ohio house explosion (Incredible picture of what was a house)

WKRC ^ | 03/02/2011 | WKRC

[TSgt]

SUFFIELD TOWNSHIP, OH (WOIO) - A grandmother and her grandson were killed when their Portage County home exploded early Wednesday morning.

The coroner has identified the victims as 63-year-old Regina Proudfoot and 21-year-old Robert Croft. Nobody else lived with them.

Investigators tell the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, WOIO-TV, that the home-which is about 35 miles southeast of Cleveland- was heated by propane, and confirmed around 11 a.m. that the incident is propane-related. However, the exact origin and cause of the 4 a.m. explosion have not yet been pinpointed.

The house had a 500-gallon propane tank which had recently been refilled. Nearby homes were also damaged in the massive explosion, which could be felt miles away in the neighboring city of Hartville.

[TSgt]

The first thing I did when we moved into our house was to rip out the propane. We are all electric and I like it that way.

[Moose4]

The part of propane Hank Hill never tells you about.

}:-)4

[RockinRight]

As a kid (from around 1980 - 1989) I lived less than a mile from where this house was.

[randog]

Hmmmm...my mother-in-law just had her propane tank refilled yesterday. I don’t think I’ll mention this little incident to her. Good thing she lives out in the desert with plenty of space between her and her propane-luvin’ neighbors.

[RC one]

I just put 150 gallons of propane in my tank. It sits right beside my house. I hope I’m not there if it blows. Probably the only way I’ll get out of my house what I have in it. from the insurance settlement.

[randog]

[al baby]

Wow when I was kid growing up 1960-1978 I lived about 2100 miles from that house

[DCBryan1]

What happened? House fill up with Natural Gas and then a spark (from AC/ coffee pot, etc) blew the house up...or did a BIG propane tank (500 gallons+) blow up? Jeez! Here I am wanting to get a Propane tank and hook it up as dual fuel to my NG generator.

[allmendream]

Proud-FEET!!!

[Hatteras]

Amazing. I grew up just 750 miles from there...

[dila813]

Propane has a pretty safe history. The Propane tank needs to be inspected yearly.

I have seen incidents like this where people have modified their hook-ups to increase the gas flow for meth cooking and similar activities. These ingredients are explosive.

It could be that the tank didn’t get its yearly inspection or illegal activities were going on in the house. I note it is grandma and a 21 year old living together which sounds like it fits the profile.

[USMCPOP]

More pics and details:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/03/02/1389645/ohio-house-explodes-woman-grandson.html

[poobear]

My G-d. That looks like something from a war zone. The fireball must have been huge!

[spodefly]

I suspect there was a house fire, intense heat, and THEN the propane tank exploded. I say this not based on any specific expertise in such matters but more based on the fact that propane tank explosions are exceedingly rare. It is generally considered to be a safe source of energy and not known to explode without some serious help from some other ignition source.

Plus, I lived for years with a 300 gallon propane tank right outside my bedroom window ... on the opposite side of the house from the kitchen and heater.

[stylin19a]

holy crap, what a coincidence. I only lived 1900 miles from you during that period.

[Mr. K]

If you go down to the end of that street and then get on the thruway and then make a bunch of turns for about 4 hours you will end up right by my place!

[bgill]

The first thing I did when we moved into our house was to rip out the propane. We are all electric and I like it that way.

Exactly what we did, too.

[RobRoy]

So, if a propane explosion is a “man bites dog” story, I take it this is a pretty rare event. I’d worry more about getting hit by a car when I cross the street.

[Seruzawa]

I’m not sure that an exploding propane tank would do that. That picture looks like the house filled with gas and then exploded... a homemade fuel air bomb so to speak. An exploding propane tank would give a large ball of fire and maybe take out the side of the house. but complete demolition makes me suspect a leak/spark combo. Maybe a valve wasn’t closed properly by the guy who filled the tank.

[RobRoy]

I don’t think liquid propane really blows up. I suspect this was similar to a natural gas leak. The house fills with gas (and air) and, just like in an automobile cylinder, a spark is applied resulting in an explosion.