The explosion in Norfolk on Friday, July 30th, that took the life of William Nichols and injured seven including Wrentham's Thomas DiPlacido, was the result of a propane leak which ignited during the installation of a heating system, according to State Fire Marshall Stephen Coan and Norfolk Fire Chief Coleman Bushnell. “Something went horribly wrong in the process of installing that particular unit,” said Bushnell.
State Fire Marshall Coan said, “The damage indicates that there was a release of propane. Pressure tests of the underground propane storage tank and the piping to the meter indicate they were secure and not the source of the leak. The damage to the heating system is consistent with an explosion and high heat from a propane-fueled fire on the hose side of the meter.”
The explosion had the force to level a one and a half story wood structure and Bushnell believes that the quality of Diplacido Development Corp’s workmanship preserved the unit next door, allowing its occupant Mary Jackson to escape. “A less substantial structure would have a different outcome.”
Almost a week after the tragedy, Chief Bushnell continues to reflect on what happened. He said it was an emotional incident that kept the firefighters on the scene trying to save Nichols, even putting their own personal safety at risk. The firefighters spent over an hour and a half with Nichols attempting to remove him from the building and save his life. “All the firefighters present were committed to saving this person,” Bushnell said. “This will stay with our people for a long period of time.”
Bushnell added, “It is a horrific tragedy on so many levels.”
The State Fire Marshall, the Norfolk Fire Department, and the town requested that EnergyUSA, the gas company that supplies propane, perform an inspection of all the River’s Edge property. While a minor leak was found on an outside tank of a separate condominium, it was very different from what caused the explosion in the building under construction. “A completely separate situation,” Bushnell said. “It is a very minor manufacturer’s defect. The leak would not have sustained combustion.”
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