SO MANY NATURAL GAS EXPLOSIONS HAVE TAKEN LIVES AND DESTROYED PROPERTIES. WITH THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE in THE NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION over the next 20 years, EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME, unless the safety is increased.
Just during the last month we have viewed dozens of gas leaks and fires and explosions throughout the united states. Here is the link that provides some of these explosions and fires:
Dec 4, 2014, Dunmore, PA. BREAKING: Gas Leak, House Explosion, Fire – CORONER HAS BEEN CALLED TO SCENE OF HOUSE EXPLOSION - a woman died
Just during the last month we have viewed dozens of gas leaks and fires and explosions throughout the united states. Here is the link that provides some of these explosions and fires:
TRAIN
DERAILMENT, NATURAL GAS EXPLOSIONS, TANKER TRUCK AND SEMI-TRAILER TRUCK
ACCIDENTS, DEATHS AND FUELS SPILLS
Dec 4, 2014, Dunmore, PA. BREAKING: Gas Leak, House Explosion, Fire – CORONER HAS BEEN CALLED TO SCENE OF HOUSE EXPLOSION - a woman died
DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- One person is unaccounted for
after a gas leak caused a house to explode and another to also catch
fire near the corner of Laurel and Smith streets in Dunmore, Lackawanna County. The coroner has been called to the scene.
The owner of the home where the explosion occurred is
unaccounted for according to authorities. Family members tell Eyewitness News
that they believe an 80-year-old woman was inside at the time of the explosion.
The Lackawanna County coroner has been called to the scene.
The house explosion occurred around 3:45 AM in the 600 block of
Smith Street. No other serious injuries have been reported, however one
firefighter was taken away by ambulance. We don't know his condition.
The incident began around 2:15 AM with a water main break near
that intersection. The water main break may have caused a gas leak. About 20-30
residents were evacuated from that immediate area following the water main
break. They've been taken to the Dunmore Community Center.
After the explosion a second home next door also caught fire.
Both homes are a total loss.
Residents all over Dunmore say they felt the explosion.
Stay with Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing
story.
______________________________________________________
DUNMORE — Emergency crews are at the scene of a house explosion
and fire in Lackawanna County.
Firefighters said they were called to a home on Smith Street in
Dunmore for a water main break and gas leak just before 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
Officials said the gas leak sparked the house explosion around
4 a.m. while also destroying an apartment building next to it.
American Red Cross officials said they opened a warming center
at the Dunmore Community Center for more than 30 people that have been
evacuated from their homes.
Newswatch 16 has a crew on scene and will keep you updated with
the latest information.
UPDATE – 8:00 AM – 12-4-2014
DUNMORE — Officials say the coroner has been called to the
scene of a house explosion and fire in Lackawanna County.
http://wnep.com/2014/12/04/breaking-gas-leak-causes-house-explosion/
UPDATE
DUNMORE — The scene of a deadly house explosion and fire is still
busy more than nine hours after emergency responders were called and an
evacuation began.
Firefighters told Newswatch16 they were first called to a home on Smith Street in Dunmore for a water main break and gas leak just before 2:30 a.m., and started evacuating residents.
Officials said the gas leak sparked the explosion around 4 a.m., and as one building burned, one was already gone.
“I am just glad I got out honestly,” said Amanda Burke, fire victim.
Burke had gone to bed for the very first time in her new apartment when police told her to get out.
“We heard the bang and got off the bus because I saw flames and I thought my house was on fire, at first, and it was the house next door, and not long after my house caught on fire. I just moved in,” said Burke.
The explosion was so powerful it blew the windows out of cars and buildings nearby.
Throughout the night people held on to the hope that everyone had made it out, but as day broke the coroner was called to the scene.
Family members said the victim was Madlyn Mecca, a woman in her late 80’s, who lived alone.
“She was very independent. Very independent, the last snowstorm she was out shoveling, we couldn’t get her to stop,” said Carmel Biko the victim’s cousin.
Witnesses said the victim actually left during the evacuation, but while she was waiting for a ride she appeared to go back to her home, possibly doing something to spark the fire like turning on a light.
Investigators will try to determine if that is what sparked the explosion and fire.
They are also looking into the whether the water main break and the gas leak are connected.
Despite all that was lost, residents applaud the efforts of first responders to evacuate the area.
“I tell you being a first-hand witness, they saved a lot of lives in this area,” said Charles Mecca, neighbor.
According to utility crews, some homes in the area do not have water, heat, or electricity.
The Lackawanna County Head Start preschool program is canceled for Thursday because a warming center has been set up at the Dunmore Community Center.
American Red Cross officials said more than 30 people were evacuated from their homes, and are being assisted at the center.
UPDATE
Explosion and Fire, One Woman Dead, Buildings Destroyed
Firefighters told Newswatch16 they were first called to a home on Smith Street in Dunmore for a water main break and gas leak just before 2:30 a.m., and started evacuating residents.
Officials said the gas leak sparked the explosion around 4 a.m., and as one building burned, one was already gone.
“I am just glad I got out honestly,” said Amanda Burke, fire victim.
Burke had gone to bed for the very first time in her new apartment when police told her to get out.
“We heard the bang and got off the bus because I saw flames and I thought my house was on fire, at first, and it was the house next door, and not long after my house caught on fire. I just moved in,” said Burke.
The explosion was so powerful it blew the windows out of cars and buildings nearby.
Throughout the night people held on to the hope that everyone had made it out, but as day broke the coroner was called to the scene.
Family members said the victim was Madlyn Mecca, a woman in her late 80’s, who lived alone.
“She was very independent. Very independent, the last snowstorm she was out shoveling, we couldn’t get her to stop,” said Carmel Biko the victim’s cousin.
Witnesses said the victim actually left during the evacuation, but while she was waiting for a ride she appeared to go back to her home, possibly doing something to spark the fire like turning on a light.
Investigators will try to determine if that is what sparked the explosion and fire.
They are also looking into the whether the water main break and the gas leak are connected.
Despite all that was lost, residents applaud the efforts of first responders to evacuate the area.
“I tell you being a first-hand witness, they saved a lot of lives in this area,” said Charles Mecca, neighbor.
According to utility crews, some homes in the area do not have water, heat, or electricity.
The Lackawanna County Head Start preschool program is canceled for Thursday because a warming center has been set up at the Dunmore Community Center.
American Red Cross officials said more than 30 people were evacuated from their homes, and are being assisted at the center.