Date: Fri 09-Feb-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

fire-Turoczi-Parmalee-Hill

Full Text:

with cut: Man Escapes Injury In Explosion and Fire

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

A former Newtown resident escaped injury following an explosion in his

parents' garage at 38 Parmalee Hill Road Tuesday afternoon.

Kyle Turoczi, who now lives in Woodbury, was apparently changing the engine on

a pickup truck near a kerosene heater when it exploded. A fire broke out in

the garage, but Turoczi managed to get out before things got serious.

"I heard something blow up behind me, then I ran for the door," he explained.

Volunteer firefighters from three companies responded quickly to the blaze and

succeeded in containing it to the garage.

The home is owned by Duane and Carol Turoczi.

Mr Turoczi, whose hair was slightly singed as he went for the door, believes

the fumes from cleaning fluids in the garage and from the truck's gas tank

triggered the flames. He had been syphening gasoline from the truck moments

before the fire broke out.

Fire Marshal George Lockwood's investigation concurred.

"We determined it was the fumes that caused the explosion," Mr Lockwood

explained. "There was a kerosene heater on about eight feet away from where he

was working."

Mr Lockwood said there was no structural damage to the house and minimal smoke

damage. The fire and heat destroyed the electrical panel, causing electrical

problems.

As fire trucks arrived, flames were shooting out a garage window in the front

of the house and smoke billowed from beneath a garage door. Firefighters

attacked the blaze from behind the house into the garage. They were eventually

to cut down the garage door with a chain saw.

Mr Turoczi summoned neighbors to call for help seconds after running out of

the burning building.

Newtown Hook & Ladder and Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Companies were first

summoned to the house at 3:40 pm after word came out of an explosion and fire.

When a second call was made stating that flames were coming out the windows,

Sandy Hook Fire Company tankers and the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were

also sent to the scene.

Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Chief Steve Murphy said the fire was put out before

the flames could reach the upstairs or get into the walls.

"Four people got there pretty quickly and went in with a hose. It was actually

a really good job by our guys," he explained.

The fire chief said Mr Turoczi was fortunate to get out uninjured.

"He was really lucky. He could have been knocked out or thrown back," he

explained.

Firefighters were at the scene until 5:30 pm.