Lightning Caused House 'Splosion
By Brianne E. Boykin
The News Herald
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
VALDESE - The Burke County Fire Marshal closed his investigation into the July 30 explosion that destroyed a home.Fire Marshal Mark Pitts believes lightning hit a gas line and a leak caused the house to explode.
Burke County residents heard the explosion for miles. It took place at 9:15 a.m. at 2838 North Face Drive in Valdese. The owners were out of town and no one was injured in the blast.
Allen Thomas, a former Hickory Crawdads player and the conditioning director for the Chicago White Sox, lived in the house with his wife, Marcella Thomas, and two sons.
Thomas was in Maryland for a series against the Baltimore Orioles. His wife and youngest son were visiting him.Pitts said he developed a theory about the cause of the explosion with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
A lightning track from Thomas’ insurance company backs up his assumption, he said.
Pitts believes a gas leak that led to the explosion was caused by lightning Wednesday, July 27. Pitts said lightning damage to a nearby tree indicated the earlier lightning strikes.
The News Herald
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
VALDESE - The Burke County Fire Marshal closed his investigation into the July 30 explosion that destroyed a home.Fire Marshal Mark Pitts believes lightning hit a gas line and a leak caused the house to explode.
Burke County residents heard the explosion for miles. It took place at 9:15 a.m. at 2838 North Face Drive in Valdese. The owners were out of town and no one was injured in the blast.
Allen Thomas, a former Hickory Crawdads player and the conditioning director for the Chicago White Sox, lived in the house with his wife, Marcella Thomas, and two sons.
Thomas was in Maryland for a series against the Baltimore Orioles. His wife and youngest son were visiting him.Pitts said he developed a theory about the cause of the explosion with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
A lightning track from Thomas’ insurance company backs up his assumption, he said.
Pitts believes a gas leak that led to the explosion was caused by lightning Wednesday, July 27. Pitts said lightning damage to a nearby tree indicated the earlier lightning strikes.
posted by Johnny at 6:38 AM
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