Lebanon, ME – Officials say the couple injured in Saturday morning’s propane tank explosion at Salmon Falls River Camping Resort are still hospitalized, though the husband is expected to be released from Frisbie Memorial Hospital today.
The couple is Richard and Julie Giarla. A fund has been set up to raise money for them. Donations can be made by mailing checks to the camping resort: 44 Natural High Road, Lebanon Maine 04027 or or come by with cash. Donations can be made online at SalmonFallsRiverRVResort.com.
Julie Giarla remains in the Intensive Care Unit’s burn center at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole of the Lebanon Fire Department said the cause of the explosion, and how the propane tank became some overheated, is still unknown. An investigation is pending by the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office but investigators did not return calls for comment.
According to Cole, who responded to the emergency call, a propone tank adjoining the couple’s camper on the exterior of the vehicle became so heated, it exploded at approximately 7:45 a.m. Saturday, April 29.
When emergency responders arrived, they found the explosion had thrown the couple from their camper, with their clothes and skin on fire. A second propane tank located on the lot also exploded and reportedly knocked some officials to the ground.
I’ve never quite seen something like that, Cole said. The first fire truck and the first ambulance had just arrived and I was actually getting out of our command truck and all of a sudden, the explosion shook the ground. I was stepping outside the vehicle and the truck I was in literally felt like it had come off the ground.
Other campers were damaged in the explosions as well, with some windows and doors blown out, Cole said but no other injuries were reported.
Salmons Falls Manager Cheryl Slood said there were approximately 30 people on the site that morning, including some staff, preparing for the opening of their camping season on May 11.
Cole said the Giarlas live in Missouri and have been vacationing at Salmon Falls for about 30 years. He heard from the couple they had come up for the weekend to prepare their camper for the coming season but had been having issues with their heating system all night.
Cole said when the Giarlas arrived the night before, the heat was not working and Richard Giarla had attempted to fix it. Slood said the couple’s tank was an older model and provided heating only via propane gas.
Cole claims in the morning, Richard Giarla again tried to fix the heat and went to the propane tank outside. When he entered the camper and sat back down, the tank exploded. Slood guesses, based on what family members had told her, the pilot light had gone off and there was a delayed spark, hence why the explosion was delayed enough for Richard Giarla to go back into the camper.
She added Salmons Falls provides each lot with electrical and water hook-ups for plumbing, but each guest is responsible for their own propane. She knew the couple had two large tanks on their lot to provide for cooking gas as well as heating purposes.
Slood, who has been operating the resort with her husband Marty since 2008, said the couple has several adult relatives on at least four other lots who have been summering there since they were infants.
She said she was touched by the support of the camping community as neighbors, and many with property damage to their own vehicles from the incident, have been going through the rubble to salvage sentimental items for their friends.
If anything, this has just pulled everybody a little closer because it makes you realize, you never know what’s going to happen, she said. You need to enjoy each day.
Cole said the family is incredibly grateful for emergency responders and local law enforcement.
The family has indicated to him, he said, they will attend the Lebanon Fire Department’s rescue meeting this evening to provide some information and thank the community.
The meeting will take place at the Lebanaon Rescue Station at 1524 Carl Broggi Highway at 7 p.m.