Norwalk, CT – A couple who had just bought a house on Deepwood Lane a month ago and are expecting a baby are lucky to be alive after a propane explosion heavily damaged their basement and first floor early Tuesday.
Simon and Mamata Bertrand, who is five months pregnant, were asleep on the second floor when propane apparently leaked from a front yard underground storage tank ignited just after 5 a.m.
We were sleeping on the second floor when we woke up to a loud boom, Simon Bertrand said, standing in the driveway, wearing shorts and dress shoes with no socks. In his front yard lay mangled window frames. In the street and on neighboring lawns were shards of glass. We grabbed a few necessities and got out.
He said there was fire on the first floor and in the basement when they made their escape.
Firefighters got the call at 5:07 a.m. When they arrived there was heavy smoke and fire coming from the basement and garage area of the 10-year-old house. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes.
After high gas readings were found at neighboring properties and storm drains around 9:15 a.m., a few houses in the area were evacuated and the road shut down as officials investigated the cause of the explosion. Police and additional fire crews were dispatched to the neighborhood.
More Information
If you think you smell gas:
Put out all open flames immediately.
Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones or cellphones.
Flames or sparks can trigger an explosion or fire.
Immediately evacuate everyone from the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking.
Shut off the gas supply from an outside tank, if it is safe to do so.
Call your local gas company office or fire department immediately from a telephone outside of the building and stay outside.
Don’t return to the area until the gas company or emergency responders say it’s safe to do so. Have the system checked before you reuse it.
Information supplied by the Propane Education and Research Council’s website, www.propanesafety.com
Deputy Fire Chief Steve Shay said the explosion that happened shortly after 5 a.m. had enough force to blow out all the house’s windows and doors. Furniture on the first floor was also overturned and scattered about.