Van explosion burns plumber in Wesley Hills

WESLEY HILLS – A plumber suffered serious burns to his face and body when a van carrying volatile gases exploded and caught fire on Wednesday, authorities said.


The worker opened the rear door about 9:30 a.m. after he heard "hissing" from the van, which was carrying propane and acetylene tanks, and Capt. Brad Weidel said.

"It just erupted," Weidel said.

Ramapo Valley Ambulance Corps took the man to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. His burns are not considered life-threatening, Weidel said.

The man worked for B&H Plumbing & Heating in Monsey, which had a group of plumbers working at a house at the corner of Glen Brook Road and Moccasin Place, authorities said.

First-responders removed other tanks from the burned vehicle.

The Rockland Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Ramapo police detectives now are searching for the cause.

"A lot of the investigative evidence was consumed by the fire," Weidel said.

Monsey Fire Chief Rick Lagarde said about a dozen volunteers responded to extinguish the fire.

Source: Lohud

{NYBuffMedia Newsroom - Photos By: Lazer Weider}