New Castle, PA – An explosion knocked a garage off its foundations and seriously injured a man Sunday night.
The victim identified by a family member as Francis Owens sustained third degree burns on some of his body, according to the same relative.
New Castle firefighters said they could not identify the victim, noting only that he had sustained severe burns and was taken to Jameson Hospital before being transferred to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.
A representative at Mercy Hospital said no information could be provided and would not confirm if Francis Owens was a patient there.
Firefighters were called to 704 Harbor St. at 6:47 p.m. Sunday. John Owens, who lives in a nearby house, told them he had asked his nephew to light a pilot light in the propane heater in the workshop. He noted that the propane tank had recently been filled.
Firemen said Owens told them that his son had tried to light the heater earlier, but had had no success.
Firemen concluded that the man involved in the first attempt had apparently failed to shut off the valve on the propane tank completely.
They said the workshop apparently filled with LP Propane gas, and when the nephew came in, a spark caused the building to explode. The explosion lifted the garage and moved it six inches, firemen said.
Firemen said the building was destroyed. They estimated the value of the building at $10,000, and the value of contents at $50,000.