Propane tanks exploded during a five-alarm fire that spread to several homes and a business Tuesday.
9-1-1 callers reported hearing several explosions, Lawrence Fire Chief Pat Delaney told WCVB, adding: "some propane tanks that were going off. But they were already on fire, So we just let them burn because when it was burning, it was burning off the fuel."
The chief added: "We had a lot of trapped fire up there. It was a tough, deep-seated, rooted fire. It developed a lot of smoke, and tonight's humidity kept that smoke to the ground. We were able to keep the fire out of 85 Oxford St., which is an occupied three-family dwelling."
Certain fire hydrants are unable to provide a large amount of water when there is a fire as big as the blaze that broke out Tuesday afternoon.
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
