Oval, PA – Leaking propane gas was the cause of Thursday night’s explosive fire that rocked Middle Road, injuring a man and a woman and destroying the couple’s home in a single split-second blast, according to Nippenose Valley Fire Chief Dean Miller.
Someone up above was watching over this couple when this happened, Miller said.
The fact that Michael Lupole, 63, and his companion, Jackie Strosser, 45, survived the explosion at 388 Middle Road was a miracle, Miller said.
Both Lupole and Strosser were taken to the UPMC Susquehanna Willliamsport Regional Medical Center. While Lupole was admitted with multiple injuries, Strosser was discharged from the hospital early Friday morning, Miller said he was told. The hospital does not release condition reports on patients.
It will be a lengthy recovery for Lupole, but he is expected to recover, Miller said.
One of the couple’s cats perished in fire, but a second one was found alive in the basement rubble late Thursday night and is getting veterinary care, Miller said.
The cat is going to recover. That’s a little good news, he said.
Lupole, who owned the home, spoke by telephone from the hospital with Cpl. Nicholas Loffredo, a state police fire marshal, who was assisting with the investigation, Miller said.
Lupole recently had a propane furnace installed in the home, but just started it up on Thursday afternoon, Miller said.
Soon after it was started, propane gas began filling up in the basement of the home, Miller said, adding investigators at this point don’t know if the gas leak was due to a furnace malfunction, a leak in the fitting (a coupling) or in the supply line from the outdoor 500-gallon propane tank.
When Lupole went to take a shower, the hot-water heater started up, and a spark from the unit might have been the ignition source for the escaping gas, causing the explosion, Miller explained.
Investigators will probably never know for sure what was the ignition source, he added.
Although propane gas does give off an odor, neither Lupole or Strosser detected any odor, Miller said. Strausser was outdoors on the back porch, and any odor likely remained in the basement and did not extend to the living quarters, Miller said.
Except for the live cat, nothing else was recovered. There was nothing left after the explosion, Miller said.
Lupole had the home insured, but it was unknown for how much. Strosser was staying with relatives or friends, Miller said.