The cause of a deadly fire Aug. 20 in a mobile home at 26133 Fifth St. in Taylor was confirmed to be caused by an accidental explosion near the gas stove in the kitchen.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – Fire officials have confirmed that the deadly fire Aug. 20 in a mobile home at 26133 Fifth St. was caused by an explosion near the gas stove in the kitchen.
Fire Chief Stan Pachron and DTE Investigator Joe Cron said the cause of the fire was accidental. The stove, which was new, was installed by a third-party contractor through a home improvement store located outside of the city of Taylor.
Taylor spokesman Karl Ziomek said further investigation by the companies involved is possible, to determine if an aspect of the stove might trigger a recall. Followup investigation by other parties, including the homeowner’s insurance company, may take months, he said.
In addition, he said DTE is doing destructive tests on both the gas and electrical meters.
The victim of the fire, Cythnia Parsall, 66, is survived by seven siblings, a daughter and grandchildren.
Parcell, who recently had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun chemotherapy, may have lost her sense of smell from the treatment, and unable to smell a gas leak, which neighbors said they noticed prior to the explosion.
Another fire, Aug. 20 on Wilkie Street, has not been investigated, Ziomek said.
Francis Bannow was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where she was treated for second and third degree burns to her head, and was scheduled for skin graft surgery.
She awoke to discover he hair on fire, with the flames originating from her bed.
Bannow reportedly tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the blaze with wet towels from her kitchen and with a spray of water, until she noticed her hair was still burning, after which she exited the house to seek help from neighbors.