Massachusetts officials said Wednesday’s house explosion that injured a woman and her 2-year-old daughter in Taunton was the result of a natural gas leak, according to a preliminary investigation.The explosion happened at about 9:50 a.m. at 78 Plain St. in the city’s Weir Village section. Pictures from the scene showed a large home fully engulfed in flames. The home is a total loss. No foul play is suspected.Lucitha Blanc, 24, and her 2-year-old daughter, Jenelle Germilus, were in their second-floor apartment making pancakes at the time of the explosion.Blanc was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and Jenelle was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.Blanc’s boyfriend, Shnider Germilus, was at work but on the phone with Blanc when the explosion happened. “I heard a big boom and my daughter screaming and and my girl screaming. I didn’t know what had happened at the moment,” he said. “She turned the stove on, and it exploded in her face. My daughter was right next to her when it happened. When it happened, she ran.”Germilus said his girlfriend and daughter were doing OK, and is thankful that he “can hold (his) baby again once she fully recovers.”He said Blanc had a cold and was unable to smell the gas odor. Video: Sky5 over house explosion in TauntonDue to the catastrophic damage caused by the explosion and subsequent fire, the exact location of that leak and the cause of ignition remain under investigation, Fire Chief Steven P. Lavign said in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with the mother and daughter who were seriously injured, as well as everyone affected by this incident,” Lavigne said. The investigation is active and ongoing, and involves Eversource, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Fire Services Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit.Three families lived in the home. Eight residents were displaced and the structure is a total loss, Taunton fire said. No firefighters were injured.The street is lined by large snowbanks after the city received close to 30 inches of snow during Monday’s blizzard, making it difficult for first responders. Police officers had to shovel out a fire hydrant.A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.
Massachusetts officials said Wednesday’s house explosion that injured a woman and her 2-year-old daughter in Taunton was the result of a natural gas leak, according to a preliminary investigation.
The explosion happened at about 9:50 a.m. at 78 Plain St. in the city’s Weir Village section. Pictures from the scene showed a large home fully engulfed in flames. The home is a total loss. No foul play is suspected.
Lucitha Blanc, 24, and her 2-year-old daughter, Jenelle Germilus, were in their second-floor apartment making pancakes at the time of the explosion.
Blanc was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and Jenelle was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Blanc’s boyfriend, Shnider Germilus, was at work but on the phone with Blanc when the explosion happened.
“I heard a big boom and my daughter screaming and and my girl screaming. I didn’t know what had happened at the moment,” he said. “She turned the stove on, and it exploded in her face. My daughter was right next to her when it happened. When it happened, she ran.”
Germilus said his girlfriend and daughter were doing OK, and is thankful that he “can hold (his) baby again once she fully recovers.”
He said Blanc had a cold and was unable to smell the gas odor.
Video: Sky5 over house explosion in Taunton
Due to the catastrophic damage caused by the explosion and subsequent fire, the exact location of that leak and the cause of ignition remain under investigation, Fire Chief Steven P. Lavign said in a statement.
“Our thoughts remain with the mother and daughter who were seriously injured, as well as everyone affected by this incident,” Lavigne said.
The investigation is active and ongoing, and involves Eversource, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Fire Services Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit.
Three families lived in the home. Eight residents were displaced and the structure is a total loss, Taunton fire said. No firefighters were injured.
The street is lined by large snowbanks after the city received close to 30 inches of snow during Monday’s blizzard, making it difficult for first responders. Police officers had to shovel out a fire hydrant.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.