Scarborough house explosion caused by ‘volatile, ignitable liquid’, investigator says
Posted April 20, 2015 5:04 pm.
Last Updated April 21, 2015 7:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Gas could have caused a house explosion that killed a man in Scarborough on Monday, the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office said.
On Tuesday, Wayne Romaine, an investigator with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office, said the cause could have been volatile ignitable liquid: a natural gas, propane, butane, or methane.
A man in his 50s died after the house exploded near Brimley Road and Steeles Avenue.
Emergency crews were called to the scene around 4:30 p.m. Monday.
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The victim was identified as Paul Zigomanis. Police said Zigomanis lived in the home and was known to authorities. He was found in the back of the house.
A cadeavour dog has been brought in to search for any other possible victims.
Neighbours said the explosion caused houses in the area to shake and a large cloud of smoke and debris filled the air.
“The houses were shaking, and we saw a large cloud of smoke and debris above the house. It looked almost as if it was raining down from the sky – like in movies,” Kaitlyn, who was in a house across the street at the time, told CityNews. “The explosion sound was very loud. We looked to the house and saw all of the wood exposed, debris everywhere. A large chuck of wood was stuck in a tree in one of the backyards.”
“The debris field is massive […] we have a substantial amount of debris that that has gone right into the basement as well,” Romaine said.
The explosion was caught on a dashcam video.
Video courtesy of Wan
Paramedics said a female suffered non-life threatening injuries in the explosion.
Fire officials said crews were dealing with a natural gas leak while removing the occupants.
On Monday, Toronto fire Capt. Adrian Ratushniak said there was a severed gas line in the area, but at the time couldn’t say if the explosion caused the gas leak, or if the gas leak caused the explosion.
“There is just a hole in the ground,” Ratushniak said. “But we’ll be here all night until we have searched every inch of this place.”
Officials said the damage extends to at least 40 homes. The neighbouring house has been destroyed.
Brimley Road is closed from Steeles Avenue East to Wenlock Gate.
