Flakes lead to flames at southern Vt. home
Toolbox
By ERIC FRANCIS CORRESPONDENT - Published: February 28, 2010
A metal roof, a multi-day snowstorm and a misdirected swipe by a homeowner trying to clear away snow added up to a basement explosion Saturday afternoon in West Brattleboro, according to a fire official.
The mishap occurred at the Temple Peterson residence on Melchen Road, a rural stretch of highway in the woods west of the interstate.
"He had a metal roof, and the snow came off all at once and blocked his windows," said Brattleboro fire Capt. Leonard Howard.
So the homeowner fired up his tractor and started removing the snow from alongside the house, Howard said. Ordinarily that would make quick work of the problem, except apparently he got too close to a connection from a propane tank.
He "sheared off the gas regulator, which had been covered by the snow, right where the gas line from the propane tank comes into the house," Howard said.
Propane is heavier than air, and it quickly flowed down and filled the basement, he said. When something in the basement switched on, that ignited an explosion and fire.
The call came in to dispatchers just after 3 p.m.
Arriving Brattleboro firefighters were met with heavy smoke pouring from the basement. They requested a second alarm, which brought additional water tankers from the Chesterfield, Vernon and Guilford volunteer fire departments.
The fire was brought under control in just under an hour, Howard said. Despite moderate damage, mostly to the basement and the home's plumbing and electrical systems, the 1-1/2-story house can be repaired, Howard said.
The homeowner couldn't be reached Saturday evening.
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