Man charged in explosion mishandled propane leak, documents say – NBC4 Washington

Court documents reveal more details about a house explosion that killed a volunteer firefighter in Sterling, Virginia, earlier this year.

Roger Bentley, a former employee of agricultural retailer Southern States Cooperative, has been indicted on involuntary manslaughter, “unlawful release of hazardous substances, namely liquefied petroleum gas” and related charges, Loudoun County officials said Tuesday.

A leak from an underground 500-gallon propane tank caused the explosion that destroyed the home on Silver Ridge Drive on Feb. 16 and killed 45-year-old Trevor Brown, the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System said. Eleven first responders were injured. Two residents of the house were able to escape the explosion, but suffered minor injuries.

According to the indictment, Bentley was not properly certified to transfer the propane that leaked before the explosion.

The owner of the house that exploded had called the Southern State Cooperative in early February to hire someone to service the tank, which had not been used in a while, according to a search warrant filed in the case.

A propane delivery driver who was filling the propane tank six hours before the explosion discovered the leak, the search warrant says.

The document goes on to say that Bentley arrived at the home a few hours later to assess the situation and allegedly told the homeowner that they would be draining the remainder of the propane from the tank.

“It was all avoidable. It was unnecessary,” a neighbor told News4 on Wednesday. The resident did not want to be named.

“It's unfortunate. I mean, it seems like there are so many places where this could have stopped,” said resident Debbie Woloshin.

Firefighters were at the home in the 300 block of Silver Ridge Dr. around 7:50 p.m. on duty after the homeowner called 911 to report the smell of gas.

The Loudoun County Hazardous Materials Response Team and other emergency responders were called to assist.

Firefighters wearing personal protective equipment were searching inside for occupants and trying to control the leak when something ignited the propane, causing the explosion around 8:25 p.m

In one of several 911 calls, a first responder said a firefighter was “pinned by debris.”

“The house is largely flattened,” a firefighter said during a 911 call.

Emergency crews on Sunday meticulously searched the remains of the Sterling home that exploded just days earlier, searching for the exact cause of a propane tank ignition that killed one firefighter and left four other first responders in the hospital. News4's Derrick Ward continues to report on the aftermath of the explosion.

News4 attempted to reach Bentley for comment on the charges but has not yet heard back.

In a statement to News4, Southern States says it has cooperated fully with the federal and local investigations.

The statement continued: “Based on our own internal investigation into the incident and a comprehensive review of our safety protocols and training, particularly regarding the handling of propane in accordance with the industry's Energy Compliance Manual, we have accomplished what we “I think personnel changes in the region are appropriate.”

Brown, a fourth-generation volunteer firefighter, left behind his wife and three children. He moved away at some point for a job and returned to the volunteer fire department as soon as he returned, Clyde Buchanan, assistant chief of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, previously said.

An explosion that killed a Loudoun County firefighter destroyed a home in Sterling Friday evening.

Chopper4 footage showed large sections covered in broken wood and charred debris. The force of the explosion sent debris flying into the branches of neighboring trees.

Neighbors feel strongly that Brown should be remembered at the spot where he lost his life trying to protect the community.

Steve Honard, president of the Homeowners Association, launched a fundraising campaign with an ambitious goal: to create a small, peaceful park where the house once stood – a place that would honor Brown's memory.

“We really don’t want a house built there because it’s kind of sacred ground for us,” Honard said. “It’s like these people, these first responders, came here and one of them gave their life to help us.”