Propane Leak Likely Caused Explosion at Van Alstyne Home – Safety Tips You Should Know

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – As the investigation continues into the causes of a deadly home explosion in Van Alstyne earlier this week, Grayson County Fire Marshal John Weda said all signs point to an accidental propane leak.

“It is a three-story building with an area of ​​approximately 8,000 square meters and a completely enclosed basement,” Weda said. “We had a propane leak in that area that came into contact with an ignition source and caused the explosion.”

The house on Stone Marshall Road in Van Alstyne exploded Monday, leaving an adult man and woman dead.

Her identity has not yet been released.

“We're still waiting on the coroner's results and we need to rule out a few things out there,” Weda said. “We are working with the commission on this investigation, so a few more steps and then we will come up with an official reason.”

Weda said this is the second fatal house explosion in Grayson County this year.

In February, one person was killed and another injured after a Sherman home exploded due to a propane leak.

Emergency responders urge anyone using propane or natural gas to exercise caution.

“We strongly recommend that people who can hire a licensed plumber or licensed plumbing contractor come out and do a gas pressure test on your pipes,” Weda said. “We recommend you do this annually.”

Van Alstyne Fire Chief Ryan Dockery also recommends purchasing a gas leak detector.

“A simple CO2 detector will not detect a gas leak in your home. You would need to purchase a detector specifically designed for gas leaks,” Dockery said. “They make detectors that are a combination, so they can detect CO and CO2 as well as gas leaks.”

It is recommended to purchase a detector with an alarm that can be plugged into the outlet to prevent extinction.

Dockery said where you place the detector is also important.

“Understand what drives your home,” Dockery said. “If it's propane, you'll want to place it lower, and if it's natural gas, you'll want to play it a little higher toward the ceiling.”

This is because propane weighs more than air and therefore sinks, while natural gas is lighter than air and therefore rises.

While frequent inspections and proper safety measures can help detect a gas leak, if you notice the smell of gas in your home, you should move quickly.

“Just get up, leave the house immediately and move safely away from the house,” Weda said. “Then you want to call 911.”

It doesn't take much for a leak to escalate into an explosion.

Copyright 2024 KXII. All rights reserved.