Updated 5/21/2024 after a second house explosion in Douglas County killed four people. An elderly woman died and another person was injured when a propane leak caused a house to explode in Douglas County, Missouri. Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to reports of a fire and explosion at a two-story residence on County Road 132 near Denlow. When they arrived, they found a man who had escaped with minor injuries. Sadly, an elderly woman who was trapped inside the house did not survive.
An investigation is underway. Authorities say early evidence suggests the house was full of propane gas when it exploded. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the homeowner had been smelling gas in the house for several days. Family friends who had been staying with her told KYTV, “You could step out on the porch and really smell it. But in the house, it smelled constant. She called the gas company and asked them to come out and check things, and they just didn’t show up.”
Propane Leak Causes Another Douglas County House Explosion
About a month after the house explosion in Denlow, another house exploded in Douglas County, killing four people. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the explosion happened on Saturday, May 18th, in Ava, Missouri, near Goodhope. According to fire investigators, the house on State Highway 442-B was undergoing renovations when a propane tank caused the house to explode. The victims were identified as 59-year-old Salvador Haro, 51-year-old Silvia Haro, 27-year-old Salvador Haro Junior, and 16-year-old Alex Haro. Deputies told KY3 the Haro family was active in the Ava community and owned a restaurant in town. A GoFundMe page was created to help support the Haro family. An investigation is underway.
Propane House Explosion Lawsuit Information
The sudden and devastating loss of a loved one in a house explosion is a tragedy no family should endure. If a fire and explosion took your loved one, you deserve to know who was responsible and hold them accountable for their negligence.
Propane explosions are often caused by gas leaks or faulty tanks. An experienced propane explosion attorney will conduct a cause and origin investigation to identify all liable parties, which can include any of the following.
- The propane company: This could include the company that installed, filled, or serviced the tank if their actions or inaction contributed to the explosion.
- The tank manufacturer: If a defect in the tank itself caused the explosion, the manufacturer may be held responsible.
- Your landlord (if applicable): Landlords have a legal obligation to maintain their properties in a safe condition. If a faulty propane system in a rental property caused the explosion, your landlord could be liable.
- Any other parties whose negligence contributed to the explosion.
When a death is involved, your family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue justice and compensation on behalf of your loved one. There may be a limited amount of time to file an explosion lawsuit, depending on the statute of limitations in your state. It is important to contact an experienced propane explosion attorney as soon as possible to protect your legal rights.
Contact us for a no-cost consultation with an attorney
The Pritzker Hageman Law Firm
Call: 1-888-377-8900
Text: 612-261-0856
About the Pritzker Hageman Burn Injury Legal Team
Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the country with experience representing families in explosion wrongful death lawsuits. Our burn injury legal team has gone up against big gas companies to win hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients in some of the largest recoveries in American history. Pritzker Hageman supports the burn survivor community by partnering with the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors and our attorneys have been active members of the American Burn Association.
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