HOPKINTON - Investigators won't know for several
weeks exactly what caused the devastating house explosion that took the
lives of two young girls, but the the blast has left many local residents
shaken.
Following the accident, which investigators say was caused by a natural
gas explosion, the Fire Department has responded to a spurt of calls from
residents who report smelling gas.
Most of the reports, Hopkinton Fire Lt. Ken Clark said, have been
unfounded. In one case, a resident left a can of paint open, prompting a
call.
"I think it's on the front burner for people," Clark said.
"It's on their minds. If they smell something that might be a gas odor,
they're calling."
State fire investigators yesterday continued their search for a cause in
the deadly explosion, but quick answers aren't likely to come, a spokeswoman
for the state Department of Fire Services said.
"It's going to be a slow, methodical process," said Jennifer
Meith. "I think it will be some time before they come to a conclusion.
It depends on what the forensic evidence tells them."
Investigators on Thursday removed oil and gas appliances and several
meters from the wreckage of the 65 Main St. home. All the materials were
taken to the state fire marshal's office in Stow for further examination.
In the meantime, Meith said, investigators plan to conduct several
follow-up interviews with witnesses.
Though officials believe they know why the house exploded, the search for
what sparked the blast is still a mystery, she said.
"We've said they're focusing in on a gas explosion, but until they
determine the cause, no cause can be ruled in or out," Meith said.
The fatal blast tore through the four-family home at 1:41 a.m. Wednesday,
leveling the building, which stood just 50 feet from the Hopkinton Fire
Department.
Firefighters were on the scene within moments, pulling residents from the
rubble, including Heath and Tara Carey. The couple's two daughters, Iris, 4,
and Violet, 51/2, were trapped inside.
Iris was pulled from the wreckage within minutes and was in cardiac
arrest. Efforts to revive the little girl failed, and she was pronounced
dead at Milford-Whitinsville Regional Hospital at 3:20 a.m. Violet's body
was removed from the remains of the home at about 6:30.
Investigators refused to say whether the explosion could be traced to the
building's heating system, but local fire officials and private contractors
yesterday warned of the need for regular maintenance.
"I think ... people are a little bit edgy, and probably rightfully
so after something like that," said Ashland Fire Chief Bill Kee.
"Our recommendation to everybody is they should have their furnace, gas
or oil, serviced yearly."
Just as it does with automobiles, annual maintenance can go a long way
toward heading off major problems before they happen, said Phil Baldwin,
service manager for Marlborough-based heating and air-conditioning company
CPS Corp.
"A lot of people, unfortunately, they don't think about it until
it's broken. It's not an issue until they have no heat," he said.
For about $90 to $150, Baldwin said, most companies will perform an
in-depth inspection, including a carbon monoxide test.
"Everybody has a car, so everybody knows every 3,000 miles you get
an oil change," he said. "Everybody has a heating system, but
nobody pushes (for) maintenance on them."
