For educational use, etc.

Dec 11, 1999 - 07:47 PM

Propane Blast Destroys House of Man Stockpiling for Y2K The Associated Press

BENTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A man who was stockpiling food and fuel to prepare for possible Y2K problems escaped serious injury after some of the propane gas he was storing in his basement exploded.

The Friday blast pushed out sections of the cement-block foundation, bowed walls and sprayed shards of glass over Alonzo Anderson's lawn, but he suffered only singed hair and a burn on his cheek.

"I don't know how he survived," said Lt. Ken Doroh of the Benton Township Fire Department.

Officials said the explosion was caused by gas leaking from one of several 120-pound propane tanks Anderson planned to use for heat if utilities failed on Jan. 1.

The explosion occurred when the highly flammable gas leaking from one of the propane tanks reached a spark or some other ignition source, Doroh said. The tanks did not explode, but the gas that had leaked out did.

Anderson told firefighters he was afraid of what might happen on Jan. 1, so he hoarded large amounts of food, water and other supplies in his basement.

The end of the year has raised concerns that some computers will not function properly on Jan. 1 because of a problem known as the Y2K bug.

What I find interesting is the need to include his "hoarding" list when they already reported his planned use of the propane. This seems to me to be some fuzzy reporting.

-- Casey DeFranco (caseyd@silcom.com), December 12, 1999

Answers

I'd like to know why the guy was storing that much propane in his basement, rather than an outside tank. Benton Twp is fairly rural -- was he a transplanted Detroiter who didn't know that one should keep fuel sources outside? Very odd.

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 12, 1999.

can't just one of those little cannisters cause that? i am storing them outside but i do know people, who because they see them inside at the stores, assume they can store them in their basement.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), December 12, 1999.

You just don't want to store ANY fuel of ANY kind near or in the same room as anything that can cause an ignition. That means .... hot water heaters, furnaces. KEEP ALL FUEL AND ANYTHING WITH IGNITABLE FUMES OUT OF YOUR BASEMENT WHERE YOUR HOT WATER HEATER AND FURNACE ARE LOCATED. Store your Y2K fuel very carefully. Call up your local fire department and ask them .... how and where to store fuel if necessary. It does no good whatsoever if all your Y2K preps go up in flame because of carelessness.

-- Lee Barber (LeeeeeeB@webtv.net), December 12, 1999.

Nothing odd about it Lady. The population of this country today, as a whole, is clueless! 2+2=5

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), December 12, 1999.

Propane is heavier than air. If stored in the basement, it cannot escape the home. I have mine in my garage. If it leaks, it just goes out under the garage door. No sweat!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), December 12, 1999.

tt,

Those 1lb containers are quite safe if stored in you home. Keep them under your bed.

OTOH, they will be pretty useless if TSHTF because they contain very little energy. Please consider buying one of those 20 lb (gas BBQ) tanks for $25 and filling it for $10. Then buy a $20 valve converter and hose combo kit so you can connect the 20lb tank to the cannister fed appliances. Presto! Much more flexibility, ease of use, and suitability. Also, it will be far cheaper in the long run.

BTW, even a 20lb tank may be safely stored in your home if you take sensible precautions. Store upright in an area with at least minimal floor level ventalation. Store away from children and in an area the tank will not be accidentally knocked. Check the valve at time of storage and monthly thereafter. Just get some soapy water and rub over the valve and its fittings. If you see any bubbles, tighten the valve. If the bubbles keep coming, return the tank.

If you cannot store the tank indoors safely, then store it outdoors. It will last many years just setting around, or a lifetime if protected from rain and snow.

Finally, if you decide to buy a tank, you should know that the industry is mid-way through a standards change. Older tanks have a valve that cannot be refilled after 2001(?). The newer tanks have a valve that prevents over fill. The newer tanks all have a triangular valve knob. Buy a newer tank if you are interested in additional safety and have a use for the tank post-Y2K. The new tanks will be a bit more expensive, though.

Sincerely,

-- Uhhmm.. (JFCP81A@aolc.om), December 12, 1999.

Everyone do yourself a big favor and store propane/butane out of doors, in a shady or covered area. The garage is NOT outdoors...

Can you say KBOOM????

watchin' the neighbor...

The Dog

-- The Dog (dogdesert@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999.

One of this area's (west central NC) local radio stations reported that Alonzo Anderson was the first Y2K FATALITY. It reported that one of his tanks was leaking and when the pilot light on his furnace ignited, the leaking tank blew up causing all of the other tanks to explode also, killing Mr. Anderson. SENSATIONALISM and SPIN in high gear.

-- (southeastern@my-deja.com), December 13, 1999.