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Lawsuits over deadly propane blast are settled

Lawsuits over deadly propane blast are settled

Photo: clipart.com


FARMINGTON, Maine (AP) Two lawsuits filed in the aftermath of a thunderous propane explosion in Maine that killed a firefighter and injured others have been settled.

A court document filed this week indicates a lawsuit against two companies on behalf of the deceased firefighter and six injured firefighters was resolved, the Sun Journal reported.

Another lawsuit brought by the maintenance worker who evacuated the structure before the explosion was settled months ago, the newspaper said.

The propane blast on Sept. 16, 2019 in Farmington killed 68-year-old Fire Capt. Michael Bell and injured his brother, Fire Chief Terry Bell and five other firefighters along with Larry Lord, the building’s maintenance supervisor.

An investigation revealed that a company that was setting posts in the parking lot severed an underground propane line, allowing the gas to permeate the building over the course of several days.

The lawsuits blamed C.N. Brown Co. of South Paris and Techno Metal Post Maine of Manchester for the explosion.

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