Photo by James Short.
What began as a reported pool heater on fire at a home on the 3000 block of Nancy Lane in Lower Providence Township Monday afternoon became a heavy fire situation after blaze spread to a shed and caused a propane tank to explode from the heat, sending shrapnel, debris and burning liquid in multiple directions.
Lower Providence Fire Department/Facebook The structure fire was reported around 2 p.m. According to Montgomery County emergency dispatch, the fire started in a pool heater, then spread to a shed that had propane inside. Upon arrival, fire crews found the shed fully engulfed in fire.
The fire also destroyed trees and flora about 50 yards from the single-family home, per reports. Extensive heat from the blaze caused siding on the rear of the home to begin to melt.
Lower Providence Fire Department/Facebook At least two propane tanks were in the shed, resulting in an explosion of one, according to reports from the scene. The second tank had to "burn off," per dispatch.
The shed burned to the ground.
By James Short Crews had the fire under control by 2:56 p.m., and the scene was cleared after about two-and-a-half hours, per dispatch.
According to Lower Providence Fire Department's Facebook, due to weather conditions, an additional engine company, Collegeville Fire, responded immediately. Once the propane tanks exploded, Lower Providence Fire immediately requested the response be upgraded to a building fire, per Facebook, which resulted in five engines, two ladder trucks and an EMS to respond to the scene.
Lower Providence Fire Department/Facebook Lower Providence Township established its own water supply and immediately began protecting adjacent properties and a second propane tank. Its ladder truck crew also searched the residence for occupants. Meanwhile, Collegeville Fire Co. deployed a line to protect the primary residence, per Facebook.
Skippack Fire Co. was called to assist in extinguishing the tree line fire, per reports. Montgomery County HAZMAT requested to investigate the propane tanks, per the fire department.
There were no injuries. The call initially came in as a trash/Dumpster fire.
In addition to Collegeville Fire Co. and Skippack Fire Co., Lower Providence Fire Department was assisted by Upper Providence Township Fire & Emergency Services, Trappe Fire Company, Perkiomen Fire Company, Lower Providence EMS, Lower Providence Police, Lower Providence Fire Marshal, and RFIT-1, per the department's Facebook.
By James Short
