Family blames propane heater for Vernonia home explosion
VERNONIA, Ore. – A woman and her grandson were badly burned when their home exploded Friday, and the family said a propane heater started the fire.
The state fire marshal is working to confirm that as the cause. While firefighters are fairly sure how the fire started, they're doing a thorough inspection anyway.
According to the family, the grandmother, Rose Cutright, was using a heater connected to a five gallon propane tank to keep warm in her bedroom – an apartment above the garage.
All it took was a leak in the propane tank and a cigarette lighter to cause the explosion that burned the home, especially its back side.
Cutright is still in serious condition at the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Her family says she's improving.
Her 12-year-old grandson, Seth, was sitting with her when the house exploded. He carried his grandmother down the steps and got the neighbors to call 911.
"She was hurt. She said, 'Help!' So I helped her down the stairs outside," Seth told KATU News.
Seth was also badly burned in the fire.
The heater was a small metal device attached to a five gallon propane tank like is commonly used on a barbecue grill.
"If the gas leaks out of the containers, say if there's damage to it that you don't know (about), you may or may not be able to smell it, but it can fill the room full of explosive gases," said Capt. David James with the Vancouver Fire Department.
The Cutrights said Rose used the propane heater because it was a cheap and easy way to warm up the bedroom.
The Oregon state fire marshal tracks fires that start in this way. Its office says heating equipment used the wrong way caused 1,800 fires and killed 12 people in Oregon from 2007 to 2011.
Fire officials say the common risk from heating equipment is carbon monoxide poisoning – not explosions.
The bottom line is a propane tank should never be taken inside and especially not connected to a heater.
Natural gas can also be extremely dangerous if there’s a leak. Officials at Northwest Natural Gas will inspect your stove and furnace for free if you contact them.
Geeez, a lot of negative comments here. I think the family is suffering enough. At any rate, I'm really glad that no one was killed and kudos to this brave young man who kept his calm in a frantic situation. It could have been so much worse! I hope he heals 100%. He truly is a hero and he will forever be bonded with his grandmother.
Time to start thining the heard and removing ALL common sense warning lables. they don't seem to help any ways.
We have used those in some rooms when doing remodel, but usually no windows. Or used in a garage / shop to help take the chill off. It is a large area though. This family learned the hard way about it. As mentioned elsewhere it does not have any safety features to turn it off if it is knocked over. Propane is not a good idea for in the house or room. Tanks should be looked at on a regular basis, to make sure they are not going to leak.
Â
I feel sorry for the family learning a very hard lesson. One second or minute of not paying attention, can cause a lifetime of regret.
"The bottom line is a propane tank should never be taken inside..." This is what I keep telling our apartment complex, which insists that all grills (and their tanks) must be stored inside your garage (if you rent one) or your storage closet when not in use. Propane tanks should *never* be inside. If they develop a leak and are outside, there is a much, much lower chance that something bad will happen. The storage closet, on the other hand, is tiny, would trap all those fumes, and is on the other side of the wall from the fireplace.
oh just a thought, is this the heater used or, is it a "model image of a "Space heater"
Outdoor propane heater used on the inside. Hey I got a good idea, lets light a lighter and see what happens! Yes that was smart!
Sorry for the grief of the family, but just about any maroon opens a window when using a propane heater in an enclosed space. Some pond-scum attorney sees a lawsuit in this tragedy in order to clog up the courts even more. Perhaps common sense in this day-and-age has been left at the curb...
For all of you making comments the propane tank was leaking and Seth smelled it. Rose couldn't smell it. Â Sure it shouldn't have been used in the house but sorry to say they used it and now the family is paying big time. Â I'm sure they and many others have learned a very valuable lesson. Â thanks for the ones that are concerned about the family in their time of need it is much appreciated.
 @renee People who have been smoking cigarettes for years and years tend to have a diminished sense of smell. Given that her entire room probably reeked of tobacco, and she was ignorant enough to have an open fuel source, I'm not surprised that she was clueless. Her sweet, innocent grandson smelled it, just like he smelled every nasty cancer stick she lit and burned in that closed room, and forced him to inhale. Her selfishness and stupidity is staggering. What do the boy's parents have to say, except that they "blame the heater"? I hope they blame their mother and themselves.
 @badcat  @renee I remember to this day, back in the 60's, driving in the car with both of my parents smoking and the windows rolled up. I shudder to think what people thought of me and that rancid smell that followed me everywhere I went. My mother is paying the price now with sever COPD. If I had the power I shut the tobacco industry down in a heartbeat.
 @badcat  @renee Sony did say one thing that was true "half of the PS2 (NOT PS3) Consoles were returned due to smokiers causing tar and nicotine to build on the electronics. I guess from what I have studied, a Hazmat crew is technically needed to truely clean an appartment or vehicle after one has smoked in it.
 @renee IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USED IN A HOUSE.  It ends right there.
I'm curious to hear all the folks who were previously complaining about the "insensitive" remarks about the grandmother who shouldn't have been smoking inside with her grandson. Still willing to defend her right to do whatever she wants, because it's her house? BeWitchin1 should be along any minute now to explain herself.....
Why bother with WARNING signs at all? She disregarded the one that told her that cigarettes are dangerous to your health. Then she disregarded the one that said the propane tank was for outside use ONLY.Â
Â
"Stupid is as Stupid does".  --- Forest Gump
Â
A lady sues McDonald's when she spills hot coffee in her lap, and wins. A carpet cleaning guy, who frequently worked around dangerous chemicals & eats TWO bags of popcorn every day, sues a popcorn manufacturer after he develops respiratory problems, and wins. If she plays her cards right, this lady can make some good $$$ of that propane tank maker, because we all know "stupid gets paid" in this country.
 @OSUx2 You are ignorant as to the facts of the McDonalds case, but it sure sounds fun to spin it that way and blame the victim, doesn't it? Stupid is as stupid regurgitates.
badcat,
I looked up the McDonalds story a couple of years ago and read it. It was actually interesting, and not really what a lot of people think it was. More people need to do a little research.
I'm pretty sure the fire started with her smoking in the house with her grandson...
And the Darwin Award Honorable Mention goes to...
Lets. See........smoking near a propane tank. But blame someone or something else. It's the new American way. He'll, the president of the country does it !
Sounds like more bs meant to shift blame from the user to the equipment. More for Darwin.........
What kind of knucklehead uses an OUTDOOR heater INSIDE a house? More proof that being stupid can kill or seriously injure you.
 @NGerblansky ...and not to mention that she was smoking with a child in the apartment with her. Her disregard for the safety and health of her grandson sinks to many low levels.
IMHO blaming the propane heater for the fire is like blaming the gun when someone dies of a gunshot wound. the outdoor propane heater didn't climb up the stairs on its own. the person who put the OUTDOOR propane heater inside the dwelling is at fault.
It would be hard to prove the heaters fault UNLESS there was a DEFECT in the PROPANE TANK, Then regardless that would not be the consumers fault that would be a defect that could cause an accident any where.
That is clearly an outdoor type propane heater, not at all safe to use in a small enclosed space such as a bedroom. I have a couple of them - there is no tip-over shutoff and they can use enough oxygen to cause suffocation in confined spaces. I feel badly for the woman and grandson who got burned but it will be hard to blame the heater itself.