Girard House Explosion

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A House on the Corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard Exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008 around 6:30 p.m. Photographers James Hughes and Steve Meyers contributed to this slide show.

Debris from the explosion covered surrounding houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

Debris from the explosion covered surrounding houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 1:52 a.m.

Tom Fiscus of Ohio Edison prepares to climb a telephone pole to test the power in the neighborhood. Daniel C. Britt.

Tom Fiscus of Ohio Edison prepares to climb a telephone pole to test the power in the neighborhood. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 1:58 a.m.

Debris from the explosion at the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard covered surrounding houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

Debris from the explosion at the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard covered surrounding houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 1:59 a.m.

The ranch sitting directly across from the explosion at 135 Townsend Street may have incurred the most damage. The garage was completely crushed by the blast force. The kitchen and living room look as though they weathered mortar fire. A three-by-four foot hole blown in the kitchen offered a grim view of the collapsed garage and a five-by-six foot hole opened the living room to the outdoors. The owner of home, Bob Delpine, escaped injury by sheer luck. He had been remodeling the kitchen area all day before stepping out for a beer on his porch just after 6 p.m. “If I were standing there, they would have scraped me off the wall,” Delpine said, pointing to his kitchen sink, now filled with chips of drywall. Delpine estimated the damage to his house at $50,000, at least. “That’s not a generous estimate,” Delpine said.

The ranch sitting directly across from the explosion at 135 Townsend Street may have incurred the most damage. The garage was completely crushed by the blast force. The kitchen and living room look as though they weathered mortar fire. A three-by-four foot hole blown in the kitchen offered a grim …

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  • September 19, 2008 2:01 a.m.

The ranch sitting directly across from the explosion at 135 Townsend Street may have incurred the most damage. The garage was completely crushed by the blast force. The kitchen and living room look as though they weathered mortar fire. A three-by-four foot hole blown in the kitchen offered a grim view of the collapsed garage and a five-by-six foot hole opened the living room to the outdoors. The owner of home, Bob Delpine, escaped injury by sheer luck. He had been remodeling the kitchen area all day before stepping out for a beer on his porch just after 6 p.m. “If I were standing there, they would have scraped me off the wall,” Delpine said, pointing to his kitchen sink, now filled with chips of drywall. Delpine estimated the damage to his house at $50,000, at least. “That’s not a generous estimate,” Delpine said.

The ranch sitting directly across from the explosion at 135 Townsend Street may have incurred the most damage. The garage was completely crushed by the blast force. The kitchen and living room look as though they weathered mortar fire. A three-by-four foot hole blown in the kitchen offered a grim …

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  • September 19, 2008 2:01 a.m.

Debris from the explosion covered neighboring houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

Debris from the explosion covered neighboring houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:02 a.m.

The remains of a residence that caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

The remains of a residence that caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:05 a.m.

Debris from the blast covered neighboring houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

Debris from the blast covered neighboring houses and lawns. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:07 a.m.

The remains of a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard that exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

The remains of a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard that exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:09 a.m.

Fires resulting from the explosion lasted into the night. Daniel C. Britt.

Fires resulting from the explosion lasted into the night. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:13 a.m.

A neighboring residence caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Photo by Steve Meyers.

A neighboring residence caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Photo by Steve Meyers.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:18 a.m.

Police and Firemen declared the seen closed for investigation almost immediately after they arrived. Photo by Steve Meyers.

Police and Firemen declared the seen closed for investigation almost immediately after they arrived. Photo by Steve Meyers.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:17 a.m.

A neighboring residence caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Photo by James Hughes.

A neighboring residence caught fire after a house on the corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008. Photo by James Hughes.

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  • September 19, 2008 2:15 a.m.

The remains of the residence that caught fire after a house on the corner of Washington and Townsend Streets in Girard exploded Thursday July 18, 2008 around 6:30 pm. Daniel C. Britt.

The remains of the residence that caught fire after a house on the corner of Washington and Townsend Streets in Girard exploded Thursday July 18, 2008 around 6:30 pm. Daniel C. Britt.

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  • September 19, 2008 1:56 a.m.