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.

[Osage Orange]

Yep!

[surfer]

It is like any technology that delivers “power”. If there is a problem with the technology either wear, bad products, etc...there are consequences.

Aluminum over time weakens because of the expansion and contraction within the metal when current is flowing through it. Over time it can crack and create a situation with spark, shorts, etc...depending on the installation, etc it has cause home fires.

[al baby]

And it is not compatible with copper wire during repair or adding ne fixtures

[primatreat]

There had to be external heat( lot of it) to cause the tank to rupture. I have two 1,000 gallon tanks that are 4 feet underground 20 feet from my house. The ground temp will never get over 60 degrees. and only a 1/2 line to the regulator at the house(outside).. I have no fear of leakage. In the basement I have a manifold that is open to sight and a gas detector next to it.

I have 22,000 gallons stored above ground at my plant. Just happens to be directly facing a school about 100 yards away. I inherited the tank when I purchased the mfg. site.

The town seems not to give a shit! I do, but the gas company “maintains” once every year. In the last 15 years they have never been spotted on site.

[al baby]

And it is not compatible with copper wire during repair or adding new fixtures

http://www.livingwithmyhome.com/201-home-tips/pillar-to-post-aluminum-wiring.aspx

[newfreep]

Amazing. I grew up...

[Twinkie]

Electric here, too. Have a wood backup stove for when temps drop down below freezing. When it does, the central system just runs and runs and runs, then won’t shut off and just blows cold air. I can’t stand gas heat; when I go in a building that’s heated with gas, I can smell it the second I walk in the door. I wouldn’t go in anyplace that was heated with gas, but that’s not always possible. In-laws heat with gas, can’t avoid that always obviously. MIL used to cook with it, and it smelled like crazy; they were oblivious to it.

[ASOC]

Holy MOLLE - looks like someone dropped a MK84 on the house!

We use NG, for no other reason than it is lighter than air - but now costs like gold...

[windcliff]

LOL

[Vinnie]

Likely a leak in a gas line under the house. Basement filled with fumes and something touched it off.

[thefactor]

How long you been sitting on that gem?

[Kinzua]

Thanks, I didn’t know that about aluminum residential wiring. I’ve only ever seen aluminum in a residential setting in the service entrance wiring. Interesting.

[freebird5850]

Our house burned down due to aluminum wiring. What happens is a wire running horizontal, over time and many heat/cool cycles, the aluminum and Bauxite begin to separate inside the wire. Then the resistance gets so high it overheats the wire and burns whatever is around it. There goes the house.

[Ditto]

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.

I agree. There have been natural gas leaks in houses followed by explosions with pretty much the same results as in that photo. I'd suspect they had a leak inside the house and when it hit the right concentration --- boom!

[BwanaNdege]

Good post!