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Fiery Explosion Of North Stamford Home Called 'A Scene Out Of Hell'

STAMFORD, Conn. – A fiery explosion that destroyed a home in North Stamford on Tuesday was “a scene out of hell,’’ Stamford Police Chief Jon Fontneau said.

A North Stamford house is in ruins after an apparent explosion.

A North Stamford house is in ruins after an apparent explosion.

Photo Credit: Colin Maclennan
Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia talks to reporters about a home that exploded Tuesday in North Stamford.

Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia talks to reporters about a home that exploded Tuesday in North Stamford.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

Officials suspect an underground propane tank at 305 Webbs Hill Road fueled the explosion. The homeowner was outside when the explosion occurred, officials said. Nobody was injured in the blast and fire.

The explosion was reported in a 911 call at 1:54 p.m., Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said. Debris was scattered in a 400-foot radius on the property, according to Pavia, and some homes nearby also were damaged. 

“They were found to be structurally sound, but did suffer damage,’’ Pavia said of the nearby houses.

The home's 500-pound underground propane tank was filled about two months ago. Officials estimated that about 400 pounds of propane remained in the tank at the time of Tuesday's fiery explosion.

The fire department did a controlled burn after the explosion to empty the tank. A cavernous crater filled the space where the home once stood.

Homes around the area were evacuated. Officials said most residents would be returning to their homes later Tuesday evening. The explosion was felt in a 2-mile radius of the home.

The 6,065-square-foot home on 1.25 acres was built in 1984. The property sold for $1.1 million in October 2006.

No hydrants were in the area. Tanker trucks from Stamford, New Canaan and Pound Ridge, N.Y., filled up at a nearby pond and delivered water to the property to put out the blaze.

That part of North Stamford has no natural gas service, Yankee Gas spokesman Mitch Gross said.

"Yankee Gas was requested to come to the scene by the Stamford Fire Department," he said. "This is standard procedure."

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