Explosion at Van Alstyne home may have been caused by propane leak, safety tips you need to know

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – While investigating what caused the crash deadly house explosion Grayson County Fire Chief John Weda said the ongoing fire in Van Alstyne earlier this week points to an accidental propane leak.

“This is a three-story building of about 8,000 square meters, with a fully enclosed basement,” Weda said. “There was a propane leak in that area which contacted an ignition source and caused an explosion.”

The house on Stone Marshall Road in Van Alstyne exploded Monday, killing an adult man and woman.

Their identities have not yet been disclosed.

“We’re still waiting on the results from the coroner’s office and we need to decide some things,” Weda said. “We’re working with the commission on this investigation, so we’ll take a few more steps there and then I’ll find a formal case.”

This is the second fatal home explosion in Grayson County this year, Weda said.

Inside FebruaryOne person was killed and another was injured when a Sherman home exploded due to a propane leak.

Emergency responders are urging those using propane or natural gas to be careful.

“We highly recommend that anyone who can hire a licensed plumber or licensed plumbing company come in and do a gas pressure test on your lines,” Weda said. “We recommend doing this every year.”

Van Alstyne Fire Chief Ryan Dockery also recommends having a gas leak detector.

“A simple Co2 detector will not detect a gas leak in your home; you need to purchase a detector specific to gas leaks,” Dockery said. “They make combination detectors so there is CO and Gas leakage as well.”

It is recommended that you purchase a detector with a removable alarm to prevent it from dying.

Where you place the detector also matters, Dockery said.

“Understand what’s feeding your home,” Dockery said, “If it’s propane, you’ll want to put them lower down, if it’s natural gas, you’ll want to put them a little higher toward the ceiling.”

This is because propane sinks because it is heavier than air, and natural gas rises because it is lighter than air.

Frequent checks and appropriate safety precautions can help detect gas leaks; However, if you smell gas in your home, get out immediately.

“Get up, leave the house immediately and get away from the house safely,” Weda said. “Then you want to call 911.”

It doesn’t take much for a leak to turn into an explosion.