Good Samaritan Recalls 2004 Evansville Home Explosion; Doesn't Fear Faulty Furnace
By: David Shepherd
Updated: November 13, 2012
EVANSVILLE - More questions emerging after this weekend's explosion that rocked an Indianapolis neighborhood.
Federal investigators are still searching for a cause after the explosion killed two people and left nearly 30 homes unlivable.
The National Transportation Safety Board says its investigators did not find any evidence of a gas line leak.
Gas company authorities say no leaking gas was detected when testing mains in the neighborhood Monday. And there is no evidence yet that a faulty furnace may be to blame.
But some are wondering about the safety of their furnace. While the investigation is still far from over in Indianapolis, experts in the field of heating and air say it's not likely the devastation was caused by a faulty furnace.
Images like those coming out of Indianapolis bring back harsh memories of Evansville's tragedy back in '04, where a home exploded in a similar scene. David Fowler lives behind the home that exploded on Lincoln Avenue after a water crew mistook a gas line for a water pipe.
When another crew member went to light a pilot light, the deadly explosion happened instantly.
"It rattled all of the windows in my house," says Fowler. "I ran outside and saw the debris still kind of floating down out of the air and the smoke coming from my neighbor's; it was directly behind me."
He wasn't just an eyewitness. Fowler heard the blast and sprung in to action.
"I saw a hand sticking out of the floor. It leveled the house. The roof was the ground floor at that point but I helped pull the Vectren individual out." He added, "It actually sucked his shirt right off of him and burned him pretty good."
Fowler says he's not concerned about a similar situation happening to him. And while some are questioning furnace safety following the Indianapolis incident, experts like technician Gabe Weiss say homeowners shouldn't worry.
"Very few furnaces are dangerous. Most of them are very, very safe."
Weiss is a field tech for J.E. Shekell Inc, a heating and cooling company in Evansville.
"Especially these modern furnaces. This thing's only about 6 years old. It has so many safety devices, temperature safety device, pressure switch."
And when a furnace reaches an unsafe level, Weiss says there are usually obvious signs.
"The gas line, you know, if you have a leak there you're obviously going to smell it. You can have a pretty good size leak and take a lighter to it and it's still not going to make a flame any bigger than a candle."
Fowler says he rests just fine knowing he takes the proper steps to protect himself, his home and his family.
"My furnace is routinely inspected and I have faith in it."
MORE INFORMATION:
Vectren issues safety reminders for the winter heating season
