PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

September 1, 2002

"Snow Hill House Explosion"

"The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating an explosion in which one person was killed and seventeen others were injured. According to Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon, the Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched for a reported odor of gas at 304 Bay Street in Snow Hill at 5:09 P.M. Arriving firefighters confirmed the odor was propane during their investigation. Shortly thereafter an explosion took place in which the house was totally destroyed and the injuries occurred. Thirteen Snow Hill Firemen were transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) in Salisbury. Four civilians were also transported to PRMC. Six of the thirteen Snow Hill Firefighters have been transported to the Bayview Burn Center in Baltimore. Two Snow Hill Firefighters have been admitted to the ICU unit at PRMC. The condition of the other Snow Hill Firefighters is not known as of this release. However at least two of the remaining five have been discharged from the hospital. It has not been determined if the four civilians would be admitted to PRMC or the extent of their injuries. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office is being assisted in the investigation by the Snow Hill Police Department, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police and Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.

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