First came the warning, then came the blast

[bmbmd]

http://www.star-telegram.com/state_news/story/164584.html

A homeowner who was inside his Cleburne house when it exploded -- resulting in his wife’s death -- had been told not to light any more cigarettes just 45 minutes before the explosion, according to a city fire marshal's report.

David Pawlick called the Cleburne Fire Department's nonemergency number between 3:30 and 4 p.m. May 29, telling fire inspector Scott Oesch that "every time my wife lights a cigarette, a blue flame shoots up to the ceiling," according to a memo written by Oesch on May 31.

Oesch said he would check out the situation and told Pawlick not to light any more matches.

Pawlick's wife, Hazel, wanted to smoke "a quick cigarette" before the inspector arrived. Pawlick lit a match, Fire Marshal Bill Wright reported. There was a blue flash, and the match went out. He lit another match, and there was an explosion of blue flames throughout the house at 632 Woodard Ave.

Between 15 and 20 seconds later, after the fire penetrated the ceiling into the attic, there was a more violent explosion, ripping a huge hole in the roof.

Hazel Pawlick, 64, died June 2 from her injuries. Four other family members were injured.

[CottonBear]

1. Darwain Award winner. n/t

[eyepaddle]

2. Damn. That just about leaves me speechless.

Just about.

And people sometimes question the need for safety rules which seem almost insultingly obvious. Well, here's why.

I'm sorry they had to learn the hard way.

[datasuspect]

4. well, in their partial defense

they DID have an all-electric house.

and they said the odorant in the natural gas might have been filtered out while travelling through earth or the sewage system.

still, if you see large flames shooting off matches, you probably should expect something is amiss and act accordingly.

[datasuspect]

3. when fire or electricity act funny indoors

get outdoors, quick.