BUTTE - Natural gas leaking from a supply line is what caused an explosion here Sunday that seriously injured a retired priest, fire marshal John Lasky said Monday.
The blast was ignited when the Rev. Jim McCarthy, 71, tried to light a cigarette while taking a bath in his four-plex apartment building, Lasky said.
McCarthy was taken to St. James Healthcare with burns on his head, arms and legs. He was later transferred to University Hospital's Burn Center in Salt Lake City. He was listed in critical but stable condition Monday.
Lasky determined that gas leaked from a line behind McCarthy's brownstone and seeped through the ground, possibly following buried pipes into the building.
He believes the gas then rose to McCarthy's bathroom through cracks and holes drilled for water lines and other utilities, exploding when McCarthy struck a match to light a cigarette.
The explosion blew out the second-story back porch of the brownstone four-plex at about 9:15 a.m. Sunday, and thick smoke filtered across the neighborhood. The building is one block east of Butte Central Elementary School.
Neighbors wrapped a blanket around McCarthy, who apparently was alone in the building, and walked him down the stairs from his apartment. He suffered burns on 40 percent to 50 percent of his body.
Lasky said McCarthy and his neighbors smelled gas more than 16 hours before the explosion. However, they didn't report the odor to authorities.
"Nobody notified us or the power company," Lasky said. "We could have went and hopefully we could have located the source of the natural gas. This could have been prevented so easy by someone making a call that night."
The Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department and the Boulevard Volunteer Department responded to the blaze.
Claudia Rapkoch, NorthWestern Energy spokeswoman, encouraged anyone who smells natural gas to immediately contact the company.
"That is one of our highest-priority calls," she said.
People who smell gas or hear a suspicious hissing sound should leave the area and use a neighbor's telephone. Using a home telephone could create enough of a spark to cause an explosion, Rapkoch said.
"Don't turn anything on, and call us from a safe location," she said.
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Crabby1
wrote on
April 10, 2007 8:17 AM This story differs some from the one published yesterday in the Montana Standard. It quoted a neighbor as stating he smelled gas all day Saturday, and on Sunday the explosion occurred. If you smell gas, call somebody!!! What kind of neighbor is this bozo? Not the kind I would want.
Rick
wrote on
April 10, 2007 7:49 PM "Butt blast blamed on leaking gas." Who says the staff at the Gazette does not have a sence of humor?
PL
wrote on
April 10, 2007 8:20 PM Hope all the idiots who light up at the gas station pumps can get the message!
Annie
wrote on
April 11, 2007 12:15 PM I'm sending this to Jay Leno for headlines! Thats hysterical!
mt dakota utilities man
wrote on
April 11, 2007 12:36 PM any time you smell rotten eggs call the gas co albeit in the armpit of the nation butte mt!!!!!!!!!
bc
wrote on
April 11, 2007 1:42 PM Greatest headline ever. Keep 'em coming.
Sam E.
wrote on
April 11, 2007 7:46 PM I love the title.
Denise
wrote on
April 12, 2007 12:26 AM Isn't there an editor at this paper?
I'm sending this into Jay leno
Applied Metaphysics
wrote on
April 16, 2007 11:56 AM amazing headline
Patrick
wrote on
April 16, 2007 12:08 PM Congrats... This headline has earned you a spot on FARK!!
Farktastic
wrote on
April 16, 2007 12:28 PM Greatest. Headline. Evar.
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