Man dies in early morning house explosion
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Morrow man died Monday morning after his house exploded over the weekend.
Ray Jones, 53, of 17122 Store Road, was pronounced dead at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. He reportedly sustained severe burns to his body when his home exploded at about 1 a.m. Saturday.
The explosion has been deemed accidental, but the Washington County Fire Marshal's Office is still investigating the cause.
Assistant Fire Marshal Laurie Roy said Jones was one of four adults and three children present at the time of the explosion.
"I know his wife and three kids were there when it happened," she said. "Amazingly, there were no other injuries. It's a miracle that the other people inside were able to walk away completely untouched."
Investigators believe a propane leak, coupled with a lit cigarette or pilot light, may have caused the blast.
"We're still investigating the exact cause and method of what was leaking," she said. "Until then, we can't make any final determination."
Red Cross representatives were present at the time of the fire to assist family members with any immediate needs.
Roy said the residence, located behind the Morrow Fire Department, was fully engulfed in flames within two minutes of the blast.
"Several walls and parts of the roof collapsed," she said. "Pieces of the house were found up to 150 feet away."
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