Nine people were injured, two of them critically, in a natural gas house explosion and fire in Chesapeake, VA on October 14. Neighbors rushed to the aid of homeowners Don and Faye Berry who were trapped beneath the rubble that once was their ranch home on Lofurno Road in Deep Creek.
Explosion in Chesapeake injures nine, destroys house https://t.co/52MCid5LUB pic.twitter.com/YfIArsFSo7
— 13News Now (@13NewsNow) October 15, 2018
Neighbors Rush to Help Couple with Explosion Burn Injuries
Neighbors Joseph and Amanda Grandia live next door to the Berrys and told local news outlets they are close friends. Knowing that Faye is disabled and could not free herself, the Grandias ran into the flaming remains of the home to try and save the Berrys. “I did what I did because I love them,” Joseph Grandia told PilotOnline.com. “They’re like family,” he told the publication. “It’s like seeing your grandmother on fire.”
Man who helped rescue two homeowners inside of home during gas explosion in Chesapeake. FULL INTERVIEW TONIGHT at 10 on @WGNTCW27 and 11 on @WTKR3 https://t.co/zEbxtnfbnK pic.twitter.com/3PqurKLOBi
— Aleah Hordges (@aleahordges) October 14, 2018
Firefighters arrived at the scene around 5:45 p.m. and had the fire completely extinguished by 9 p.m. Columbia Gas cut service to the Berry’s home and two others but the rest of the neighborhood has service.
The Berrys suffered severe burns and other explosion injuries. They were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where they are listed in critical condition. Six other people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries. They were treated at Chesapeake General Hospital. A seventh person was also treated at the hospital. The injuries of that patients were unknown to fire officials.
“No family should have to experience the pain and loss that explosions can cause,” said Fred Pritzker, an explosion attorney and founder of Pritzker Hageman law firm which has secured multimillion-dollar settlements for clients nationwide. Pritzker Hageman is one of the few law firms in the country with experience in explosion injury and wrongful death cases. For a free consultation with the explosion lawyers at Pritzker Hageman, call them toll-free at 1 (888) 377-8900. Or, complete the form below.