Dymphna
Loyalty, Friendship, Love
Blast rips home
Published on Thursday, January 22
FREDERICK -- A fire near a closet full of chemicals triggered a loud "eruption" in a Spring Ridge townhouse Wednesday morning that blew apart the home's interior, authorities said.
No one was hurt in the second-story blast at 6130 Pine Crest Lane in Spring Ridge, which was reported at 8:48 a.m., Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Allen Gosnell said.
Maryland State Police Lt. David Reichenbaugh said firefighters found evidence in the home that prompted a narcotics investigation. He said the probe was unrelated to the blast.
No arrests had been made as of Wednesday night.
A 6-year-old boy started the fire accidentally while playing with a cigarette lighter near the closet, Deputy Chief Gosnell said.
The flames ignited vapors from household chemicals. That set off a thunderous boom that blew out doors and a window and knocked a toilet off its moorings, he said.
"It was an eruption, which is not technically an explosion," said Deputy Chief Gosnell, who characterized the chemicals as cleaning solvents, paint supplies and "glue remover."
"I've been in the fire service for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," he said.
He said there were no injuries to the boy, his 8-year-old sister or their mother. The father, James Graziani, was not home at the time.
Mr. Graziani, who came to the scene after the blast, said his daughter understood that an explosion was imminent.
"She hit the deck," he said. "If she had stayed standing, she would have been blown out the window" from the second floor.
Deputy Chief Gosnell said, "Everybody just happened to be in the right place" when the eruption occurred.
"It could easily have been far worse," he said.
He said the Red Cross was preparing to house the family.
He estimated damage at $40,000, saying inspectors found no problems with the home's structural integrity. No major exterior damage was evident.
Mr. Graziani said the home is insured.
Damage caused by the fire itself was confined to the closet, Deputy Chief Gosnell said.
Lt. Reichenbaugh said he didn't know what drug-related evidence was allegedly found. He said search warrants were being sought.
Lt. Reichenbaugh emphasized there was no connection between the blast and the police investigation.
"There is no indication of any type of a drug lab," he said. "That is definitely not involved."
Deputy Chief Gosnell said, "I don't have any reason to believe drugs were found."
Neighbors described awakening to a boom that shook their homes.
"It felt like the top of the house was moving one way and the bottom was moving the other," said Chris Gartner, who lives a few doors down.
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This is a few doors down from were I used to live before moving back to So. MD. The mother of these kids told me once that she wanted to be licensed for daycare, but was having trouble finding someone to agree to come watch the kids, in the event she was feeling stressed and needed to smoke some pot. Last I knew, she'd kicked the husband out because he was addicted to prescription meds.
Published on Thursday, January 22
FREDERICK -- A fire near a closet full of chemicals triggered a loud "eruption" in a Spring Ridge townhouse Wednesday morning that blew apart the home's interior, authorities said.
No one was hurt in the second-story blast at 6130 Pine Crest Lane in Spring Ridge, which was reported at 8:48 a.m., Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Allen Gosnell said.
Maryland State Police Lt. David Reichenbaugh said firefighters found evidence in the home that prompted a narcotics investigation. He said the probe was unrelated to the blast.
No arrests had been made as of Wednesday night.
A 6-year-old boy started the fire accidentally while playing with a cigarette lighter near the closet, Deputy Chief Gosnell said.
The flames ignited vapors from household chemicals. That set off a thunderous boom that blew out doors and a window and knocked a toilet off its moorings, he said.
"It was an eruption, which is not technically an explosion," said Deputy Chief Gosnell, who characterized the chemicals as cleaning solvents, paint supplies and "glue remover."
"I've been in the fire service for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like this," he said.
He said there were no injuries to the boy, his 8-year-old sister or their mother. The father, James Graziani, was not home at the time.
Mr. Graziani, who came to the scene after the blast, said his daughter understood that an explosion was imminent.
"She hit the deck," he said. "If she had stayed standing, she would have been blown out the window" from the second floor.
Deputy Chief Gosnell said, "Everybody just happened to be in the right place" when the eruption occurred.
"It could easily have been far worse," he said.
He said the Red Cross was preparing to house the family.
He estimated damage at $40,000, saying inspectors found no problems with the home's structural integrity. No major exterior damage was evident.
Mr. Graziani said the home is insured.
Damage caused by the fire itself was confined to the closet, Deputy Chief Gosnell said.
Lt. Reichenbaugh said he didn't know what drug-related evidence was allegedly found. He said search warrants were being sought.
Lt. Reichenbaugh emphasized there was no connection between the blast and the police investigation.
"There is no indication of any type of a drug lab," he said. "That is definitely not involved."
Deputy Chief Gosnell said, "I don't have any reason to believe drugs were found."
Neighbors described awakening to a boom that shook their homes.
"It felt like the top of the house was moving one way and the bottom was moving the other," said Chris Gartner, who lives a few doors down.
link
**********************
This is a few doors down from were I used to live before moving back to So. MD. The mother of these kids told me once that she wanted to be licensed for daycare, but was having trouble finding someone to agree to come watch the kids, in the event she was feeling stressed and needed to smoke some pot. Last I knew, she'd kicked the husband out because he was addicted to prescription meds.