Cigarette, gas ignited inferno
AUTHORITIES say the man badly burnt by a gas bottle explosion in his Gold Coast home at the weekend was lighting a cigarette when the place went up.
Fire investigators found two 9kg gas bottles near the centre of the Hope Island property.
Investigations at the old timber house finished yesterday morning. Police declared the fire to be non-suspicious, with charges not expected to be laid.
“To create an explosion like that, you need the perfect mix of oxygen and ingition,” fire investigator Marcus Barrett said.
“Police have said the occupant lit a cigarette.
“The consequence of that was an explosion which saw a window blowout, and the house become well involved in fire.”
Emergency services were called to the 28 Crescent Ave home at 7.15pm Saturday after a loud explosion noise.
The occupant of the house, Matthew Grimberg, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital with severe burns to his upper body including his face and neck.
He was transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital after his condition deteriorated. He was in a stable condition yesterday.
Mr Barrett said gas cylinders of that size needed to be kept outside.
“That size gas cylinder can’t be kept inside, is should be stored in a shed.”