Why Maine is a dangerous place to live (apartment complex, mattresses)

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Actually gas explosions are very rare in private residences and apartment buildings.

Compared to What? I am not doubting you but what determines wether its rare or not. You know....like dying in a plane crash is rare compared to the odds of dying in a car crash.

off the top of my head I think of 2 that have occurred in maine this past year.....lewiston had one a few years ago and i know there was a couple in Nh the last few years. Ma had some big ones the last decade in Attleboro and easton.

[msina]

My nephew was working for the City of Attleboro's water Dept. and was there when it exploded. He quit his job and went to work driving concrete soon after.

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Compared to What? I am not doubting you but what determines wether its rare or not. You know....like dying in a plane crash is rare compared to the odds of dying in a car crash.

off the top of my head I think of 2 that have occurred in maine this past year.....lewiston had one a few years ago and i know there was a couple in Nh the last few years. Ma had some big ones the last decade in Attleboro and easton.

There was one in Danvers, MA as well, within the last couple of years (a dummy with a backhoe ruptured a pipe). Just recently, though it wasn't a home, another building in MA exploded due to guess what...ice and snow sliding off the roof and damaging the gas line.

[WhoFanMe]

South Portland had one in October:

The South Portlander: UPDATE: Gas Explosion Levels Empty House (broken link)

[Bydand]

Yep, they do happen every once in a while, but almost every one of the ones mentioned was somebody hitting it with equipment. Which boils down to rushing things usually and not calling dig-safe. Free, and they mark where underground piping, power and telephone lines run. If you know there is a gas line around and you continue to dig with a backhoe, you are in idiot, plain and simple. All outside fuel lines must be covered well enough to prevent falling ice from damaging them, gas, oil, whatever; if they are not, it isn't the type of fuel that is to blame for failure.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Compared to What?

Fires due to wood stoves. Electric heat without proper clearances. Chimney fires. Compared to a lot of other heating styles.

[moughie]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Fires due to wood stoves. Electric heat without proper clearances. Chimney fires. Compared to a lot of other heating styles.

I always hate to read about the disasters that often occur in winter due to one of the many problems you listed above. Always seems like, every winter, you hear about a family in a rural area suffering a dreadful fire.....

[7th generation]

I was not able to find statistics regarding propane leaks, leading to a death in Maine.
Here are other death stats for the year 2006:
homicide: 21
highway deaths: 188
fire: 15

[Bydand]

I just heard today about somebody they found in his burned out trailer downstate. They don't know for sure when it burned, or what exactly caused it because the damage was so extensive, but the mentioned that his only heat source was a wood burner. (Not saying that is what caused the fire) Make you sad that this fella was gone for several days before anybody even went looking.

[msina]

The man lived quite rurally in Amity with his 9 dogs. Sadly all were lost.