Gas explosion kills firefighter as blast destroys new building in Maine
Firefighters were investigating reports of a gas leak in Farmington, Maine when the deadly blast ripped through the building; WGME's Dan Lampariello reports.
A firefighter killed in the fierce propane explosion in Maine on Monday was the brother of the town's fire chief who himself was injured in the blast, officials revealed.
The explosion shattered the two-story building that housed LEAP Inc., a nonprofit that serves people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, just a couple of months after it was finished.
The blast, which erupted after fire crews arrived to investigate the smell of gas killed 68-year-old Fire Capt. Michael Bell and injured his brother, Fire Chief Terry Bell; five other firefighters; a maintenance worker for LEAP; and an ambulance worker, officials said.
A man working at the scene of the deadly propane explosion Monday. (Jacob Gage via AP)
“It’s a war zone. It’s just a mess,” said Scott Landry, a member of the Farmington Town Select Board. “The building is gone.”
The blast was so powerful it blew a vehicle across an intersection and damaged nearby buildings. Paper, insulation and building debris rained on the area.
Four of the firefighters were in the intensive care unit at Maine Medical Center in Portland, while the maintenance worker was being treated at a hospital in Boston, officials said. One firefighter and the ambulance worker were treated and released.
TEXAS BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT KILLED IN CRASH AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE
The blast hit around 8:30 a.m. in this town in western Maine, about 70 miles north of Portland.
Neighbors heard a thunderous boom that rattled homes and knocked pictures off walls. Flying paper and dust made it look as if a snowstorm had hit.
The explosion leveled new construction in Farmington, Maine. (Jacob Gage via AP)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Gov. Janet Mills — who is from Farmington and whose office said she knew the firefighter who died — ordered flags lowered to half-staff across the state. Mills also visited the scene and promised the state fire marshal’s office will investigate.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of as much as we possibly can to protect this community, to protect all other communities and make sure this doesn’t happen again,” she told reporters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
