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Maine tightens “Dig Safe” laws in wake of Farmington blast

Maine tightens “Dig Safe” laws in wake of Farmington blast

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AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) A bill in response to a fatal explosion that is designed to make digging in Maine more safe has passed the state’s Legislature.

The Maine Legislature approved Democratic Rep. Seth Berry’s proposal to include liquefied propane gas lines in the state’s “Dig Safe” laws on Tuesday.

The new law stems from an explosion last year at the LEAP Inc. building in Farmington. The blast killed a firefighter and injured six others and a building supervisor.

Danielle Bell Flannery, whose father, Fire Capt. Michael Bell, died in the explosion, testified in favor of the bill.

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