Couple rescued after smoking while on oxygen led to explosion: Glen Rock assistant chief

Teresa Boeckel, York Daily Record
Updated ·2 min read

Firefighters rescued an older couple from a house fire early Wednesday morning in Shrewsbury Township after an oxygen tank exploded while someone was smoking, Glen Rock Assistant Fire Chief Josh McCullough said.

Firefighters pulled a woman from the first floor of the home on Bohr Court. Her husband was found on the grass outside.

Both were transported to York Hospital, McCullough said.

He did not have the names of the victims, and he did not know the extent of their injuries.

Careless smoking around oxygen killed two earlier this year

Earlier this year, 4-year-old Chase Butcher and 79-year-old Ronald Richard died in West Manheim Township when careless smoking caused oxygen tanks to explode. The house became engulfed in flames.

Another fire department in York County has responded to flash fires where patients have been burned because someone was smoking while oxygen was in use, McCullough said.

"You never really used to see this," he said.

It's dangerous to be smoking when someone is on oxygen, McCullough said.

Photo shows piece of oxygen tank left from explosion

This is a piece of an oxygen tank that exploded in a Shrewsbury Township home early Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire was careless smoking while one of the victims was using oxygen, Glen Rock Assistant Fire Chief Josh McCullough said.
This is a piece of an oxygen tank that exploded in a Shrewsbury Township home early Wednesday morning. The cause of the fire was careless smoking while one of the victims was using oxygen, Glen Rock Assistant Fire Chief Josh McCullough said.

In the Shrewsbury Township fire, a neighbor called 911 after hearing screaming and smoke detectors sounding.

One of the oxygen tanks in the home ruptured just before firefighters arrived, McCullough said. Other tanks were in the home, too.

The explosion blew the windows and doors out of the home.

Within five minutes of their arrival, firefighters rescued the woman and knocked down the fire, he said.

"You feel good because you made a difference," McCullough said.

Firefighters rescued two people from a fire in Shewsbury Township early Wednesday morning, according to York County 911 and the Shrewsbury Volunteer Fire Company.
Firefighters rescued two people from a fire in Shewsbury Township early Wednesday morning, according to York County 911 and the Shrewsbury Volunteer Fire Company.

A state police fire marshal responded to investigate the fire.

McCullough estimated the fire loss between $100,000 and $150,000.

Numerous fire departments responded to the call. They are Shrewsbury, New Freedom, Loganville, Stewartstown and Lineboro, Maryland.

Check back later as this is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Couple rescued after smoking while oxygen was in use sparked explosion, fire in Shrewsbury Township