A propane explosion at the Butterfly Inn in Oak Creek Canyon, AZ severely injured one person who was airlifted to the Arizona Burn Center on Friday. A second person was transported to Sedona Emergency Center.
The Sedona Fire District responded to a report of a fire at the hotel, located in the 9000 block of North State Route 89A located in Oak Creek Canyon, at about 10:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18. The fire followed an explosion that occurred in an employees-only building on the property.
The fire department said that early indications are that the source of the explosion was a leaking propane tank. The investigation is ongoing.
Several questions need answers in this investigation:
- When was the propane tank at the Butterfly Inn last filled and serviced?
- Did the propane gas company fill and service the tank correctly?
- Did an employee or agent of the Butterfly Inn work on the tank before the explosion?
- Did an employee or guest at the inn smell gas before the explosion?
Arizona fire officials are investigating. It may take months to determine exactly what happened.
The Arizona State Fire Marshal investigates some of the fires that happen in the state. The primary job is to enforce the Arizona Fire Codes, which include provisions that would need to be followed by a building that provides lodging to the public. In pursuit of this goal, the Fire Marshal’s office does building inspections and fire investigations.
Source: http://azdailysun.com/news/local/propane-explosion-burns-at-butterfly-inn-property/article_a38e9ed3-93f3-5c43-b5d6-1169547dcd6f.html