A 45-year-old man died after a propane tank exploded at his New Jersey home on Tuesday, authorities said.
In a news release, the Stafford Township Police Department said authorities were called to a residence on Neptune Drive early this morning after reports of an explosion that resulted in a structure fire.
“Responding officers found a male victim on the front lawn of the residence, later identified as the homeowner, Kevin Thomas, 45, with serious burns to his upper torso,” the department said in a statement. “MR. Thomas was airlifted to the Temple Burn Center in Philadelphia, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”
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According to police, “the origin of the explosion was a bedroom in the southwest corner of the house and that the cause of the explosion was the release of propane from a tank into an open flame.”
Mary Biniaminov, a neighbor, told News12 New Jersey that Thomas knocked on her door asking for help, calling the incident “super scary.”
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“The guy was banging on our door, and I honestly didn’t even know what it was, and he was yelling for help,” she added. “Five minutes later we saw the police, the fire engine, so we went outside and saw the house was on fire.”
The situation prompted the evacuation of neighboring homes until the area was deemed safe, according to ABC affiliate WPVI-TV.
The house has been declared uninhabitable, and further details of the explosion are still being investigated, the report said.
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Linda Fiola Parillo, Thomas’ sister, posted on Facebook that she had to step away from social media while appreciating the “love and prayers” because his death is “hard for me right now.”
“I’m so full of the time I spent with my brother, I have a million memories and I’ll miss him again. Thank you ❤️ 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏,” she added.
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