MEC&F Expert Engineers : Leak in a 23-year-old stove caused explosion, fire that destroyed Lincoln four-plex

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Leak in a 23-year-old stove caused explosion, fire that destroyed Lincoln four-plex


Crews fight a blaze near 29th and N streets Wednesday morning. LAUREN WAGNER, For the Journal Star

Leak in
23-year-old stove stove caused explosion, fire that destroyed Lincoln four-plex, investigator says

Lincoln Journal Star


August 29, 2018

 

Tenants and a passer-by at a central Lincoln four-plex had smelled rotten eggs and suspected leaking natural gas in the days before an explosion and fire there but no one called 911, a fire investigator said Wednesday.

The fire Aug. 22 that destroyed the building at 2912 N St. and displaced the tenants was blamed on a 23-year-old stove, Lincoln fire investigators Don Gross said.

No one was in the basement apartment when the oven exploded just after 6 a.m., and other tenants in the building escaped unharmed, he said.

Gross believes the old stove had been leaking for quite a while and the oven's pilot light ultimately ignited the blaze, he said.

The fire rendered the two-story building a total loss. It was valued for tax purposes at $98,900.

Damage to the contents inside the four apartments was estimated at $25,000.

Gross said the leak could have been identified and stopped if any of the tenants or a dog-walker had reported the odd smell to a landlord or to fire officials.