A homeowner accidentally cut a propane line while working on his HVAC system. This happened before a house near Annapolis, Maryland, exploded, killing one woman, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department determined.
Propane leaked into the Cape St. Claire home and accumulated without the homeowner realizing it. He later used a metal grinder, which ignited the explosion.
According to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, a propane company had also visited the home about an hour before the blast, but the department determined that the company did not cause or contribute to the explosion.
76-year-old Linda Synowczynski died at the scene, and her husband, the homeowner, was seriously injured. As of August 24, WUSA9 reports that he is still hospitalized in serious condition.
What Happened Inside the Home
The explosion happened shortly after noon on Aug. 19 at a home in the 1100 block of Green Holly Drive. Neighbors called 911 after hearing a blast, and firefighters arrived to find the single-family home largely collapsed.
Assistant Anne Arundel County Fire Chief Larry Schultz told WTOP that there was significant damage and a debris field extending “about a half a block up the street.” The second floor had collapsed onto the first.
Family members told the department that the homeowner had a weakened sense of smell, which may have affected his ability to notice the gas leak.
Important Safety Guidelines
According to WUSA9, following the blast, neighbors helped get Linda Synowczynski away from the explosion. WTOP reports that fire crews later found her in the yard in cardiac arrest, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
WTOP separately reports that the homeowner had sustained serious burns and was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview in critical condition. CBS Baltimore further confirms that he suffered severe burns and was airlifted to the hospital.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department offers important guidance: propane and natural gas are highly flammable. Anyone who smells gas or suspects a leak should leave the area immediately and avoid operating anything that could produce a spark, including lights, appliances, phones, or vehicles near the suspected leak.
Because not everyone can reliably smell a gas leak, the department said people should not depend on their sense of smell alone and stressed the importance of carbon monoxide alarms and regular inspections for fuel-burning appliances. The department also cautioned people not to try to locate or repair gas leaks themselves and recommended having qualified professionals perform gas-related work.