Iowa fire and explosion investigators have determined that leaked propane caused a home to explode, killing a man from rural Maquoketa, Iowa. The blast happened early on the morning of June 25 in Jackson County when he was the sole occupant of the dwelling. He survived, remarkably, and was rescued from the rubble, but died of his injuries after being air-lifted to the hospital in Iowa City.
Ron Humphrey, special agent in charge of the Arson and Explosives Bureau of the Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, told the Dubuque Telegraph Herald this week that leaked propane caused the blast. But the officer said the precise source of the leak could not be determined due to the extensive damage. The two-story home was flattened and the jolt knocked a nearby structure off its foundation, sending shock waves all around and scattering debris hundreds of feet in all directions.
Can I Sue for a House Explosion?
A number of gas explosions can be traced back to negligence on the part of the gas company, filling service, appliance installers and other professionals. It’s also possible that the gas company’s propane did not carry enough scent to alert the homeowner of a leak. Also known as odor fade, our attorneys have discovered in some instances that the ethyl mercaptan added to propane to give it a skunky smell loses its strength. Because propane itself is odorless, the gas can then build up on the lower levels of a home without the resident being aware of the risk.
Propane explosion lawyers Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman, the attorneys at our firm who handle these cases, stress the importance of exhaustive research in trying to properly place liability for a safety failure and resulting injuries or deaths. They have recovered millions of dollars for clients in gas explosion lawsuits.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a propane blast and you are looking for representation to hold the industry responsible, contact Fred or Eric for a free case consultation and discussion of your legal rights.