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A Neighborhood Rocked By Blast: Franklin Square Man is Critically Burned As His House Explodes; the Cause is Unknown, Authorities Say

Posted on: Thursday, 15 June 2006, 06:01 CDT

By Wil Cruz And John Valenti, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Jun. 15--An elderly man, lighting a morning cigarette in his kitchen, touched off a devastating explosion that destroyed his cape-style home and left him critically burned early yesterday in Franklin Square.

The blast, which one witness said was so strong it blew leaves off the block's trees, damaged four other homes and cars in the working-class neighborhood.

Nassau police said Joseph Sicari, 79, a retired postal worker and widower who lived alone, told them he awoke yesterday and, as he tried to light a cigarette in his kitchen, his house exploded.

John Novello, one of two neighbors who helped rescue Sicari, said, "There was fire coming out of the house. We saw Joe inside. He was in complete shock. ... We had to get to him if we could."

At least 10 other houses have exploded on Long Island since 2001, records indicate. Those explosions were caused by natural gas or propane leaks, according to police.

A spokeswoman for KeySpan said yesterday that natural gas was not involved in the explosion of the Sicari home.

Investigators from the Nassau County Fire Marshal's office said they had not ruled out a natural gas leak as the cause, and one official from that office said the fire appeared to be accidental. The Nassau County Arson/Bomb Squad also is investigating.

Sicari was taken to Nassau University Medical Center after being rescued by neighbors Novello, 35, a math teacher at Valley Stream North and a volunteer firefighter, and Dennis Canese, 58, a retired firefighter.

He was in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over more than 80 percent of his body, a hospital representative said.

The explosion occurred about 6:55 a.m. at 223 Ribbon St., between Fenworth Boulevard and Hempstead Turnpike.

It not only leveled that house but also damaged four other homes on the block, as well as a garage, three cars and a home on neighboring Fendale Street, police spokesman Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said.

More than 150 firefighters from Franklin Square, West Hempstead, Malverne, New Hyde Park and Elmont battled the ensuing blaze for several hours. Two firefighters, who were not identified, were taken to hospitals - one suffering from smoke inhalation, the other from chest pains. Their conditions were unknown last night.

The explosion was reported to KeySpan at 7:10 a.m., spokeswoman Karen Young said, and a crew arrived at the scene at 7:40 a.m. and shut off service to Nos. 223, 219 and 227.

A neighbor, Debbie Koraus, 52, a 25-year resident of the area, said she heard the explosion and, after checking to make sure her family was safe, went outside to investigate.

"I opened the door," she said, "and saw the house on fire. ... It was scary."

Canese said: "It's just a shock when something like this happens so close to home."

Teddy Braun, chief of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department, said he had been at the scene of previous home explosions but said: "This was a pretty bad one. ... It looked like a tornado, the way the flames were blowing out."

A 75-year-old woman who lives next door was asleep when the explosion occurred.

But neighbor Lucy Acquavella was awakened, police said, when flying debris caused the partial collapse of her bedroom ceiling. She was not injured, Smith said.

John Livingston, county assistant chief fire marshal, said his office would not speculate on the origin of the explosion and fire - and that the investigation would take "several days."

"We have not determined an exact cause at this time," Livingston said, adding: "The fire is of undetermined origin. We just want to make sure we have our facts straight. It does appear to be an accidental fire."

LI home explosions

Since 2001, at least 10 Long Island homes have exploded, many involving leaks of natural gas or propane.

Feb. 14, 2006 - A Greenport house is leveled in a gas-related explosion. The owners escape with minor injuries.

July 2, 2005 - A house in Westhampton Beach blows up due to a gas leak. Two people in the house escape unharmed.

May 19, 2005 - An unoccupied house in Huntington Station explodes. No one is injured. Police blame propane leaking from a kitchen stove top.

Nov. 5, 2003 - Three people are injured when a propane leak fuels an explosion that levels a house in Ronkonkoma. It is believed that an oil burner repairman accidently triggered the blaze.

Jan. 25, 2003 - A couple who smelled gas fled moments before a blast destroyed their Hicksville home. They were thrown 10 feet from their porch, police said.

Compiled by John Valenti

When gas or propane leaks

Propane and natural gas contain an odorant that smells like rotten eggs. If you smell something, get out of the house and call the fire department. Don't turn light switches on or off.

Make sure storage area over stove is free of flammable and combustible material.

Don't tempt children by putting candy and cookies over the stove.

SOURCES: U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission; Garden City Park Fire Dept.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

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