Man blows up house reloading

[ladder13]

Hector Salamanca

 

[quikdraw67]

Hmmm...I am surprised that nobody has mentioned tannerite as a possible source. I have seen a washing machine just get shredded when a friend placed 8 lbs of it under the washer and fired an Ak47 at it. Yes, we all picked up the pieces and threw them away afterwards. It was an impressive sight!!!

Does tannerite burn or explode when in a fire?

 

[mtgianni]

If the reloading caused it the homeowner was at the epicenter. I am in the something else camp.

 

[ACORN]

Wonder if the neighbors know what gunpowder smells like? Or did they jus smell something and assumed it was.

 

[SMSgt]

Hmmm...I am surprised that nobody has mentioned tannerite as a possible source. I have seen a washing machine just get shredded when a friend placed 8 lbs of it under the washer and fired an Ak47 at it. Yes, we all picked up the pieces and threw them away afterwards. It was an impressive sight!!!

The explosion or you guys actually cleaning up the mess?

 

[glenwolde]

Wonder if the neighbors know what gunpowder smells like? Or did they jus smell something and assumed it was.

Did they smell gunpowder burning? 'cause ya can't smell powder from more than a foot away.

 

[tlawler]

Hector Salamanca

Ding, ding, BOOM!

 

[Jon651]

He may not have had natural gas service, but LP gas goes boom too.

As many posted above. we're not getting the whole story here.

LP gas bottles of all sizes generally don't go boom - they burn like a roaring jet engine! The one thing people are forgetting here is that if this was an LP explosion there would be plenty of evidence of subsequent fire because LP fires don't "blow themselves out".

LP Gas Fire - YouTube

There are plenty of flammables and explosives in a typical garage even without reloading going on in an enclosed space. Spray something in the air, gasoline fumes from a gas can with a leaky cap, plenty of petrochemicals in convenient consumer-sized pressurized spray bottles, fumes from paint and other household chemicals - then the fan for the AC air handler located in the same room clicks on or perhaps the compressor motor in an outdoor freezer or someone presses the button for the garage door opener which generates a spark, then... You get the idea.

 

[ladder13]

Ding, ding, BOOM!

 

[crstrode]

He did not blow up his house while reloading.

He blew up his house (and his reloading bench) while cooking up meth on a leaky gas stove

 

[Greyman50]

I refer everyone to" Hatcher's Notebook, pages 525-527 concerning smokeless and black powder fires. By chance one does not know who Maj. General Hatcher was suggest they look him up And find a copy of his book. Interest in firearms and ammunition will eventually lead one to his book.

 

[Buford57]

My vote is for a six pound pipe bomb. A certain NYC brownstone comes to mind.

 

[mtgianni]

LP gas bottles of all sizes generally don't go boom - they burn like a roaring jet engine! The one thing people are forgetting here is that if this was an LP explosion there would be plenty of evidence of subsequent fire because LP fires don't "blow themselves out".

LP Gas Fire - YouTube

There are plenty of flammables and explosives in a typical garage even without reloading going on in an enclosed space. Spray something in the air, gasoline fumes from a gas can with a leaky cap, plenty of petrochemicals in convenient consumer-sized pressurized spray bottles, fumes from paint and other household chemicals - then the fan for the AC air handler located in the same room clicks on or perhaps the compressor motor in an outdoor freezer or someone presses the button for the garage door opener which generates a spark, then... You get the idea.

I have worked a fire where a tank BLEVE'd but it would be rare to see that inside a house. Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, will go boom and extinguish a lot of small flames. LP or Nat Gas fire can be put out easily but will reignite just as easy if the heat or fuel isn't removed.

 

[stansdds]

My vote is for a six pound pipe bomb. A certain NYC brownstone comes to mind.

That possibility came to my mind as well.

 

[Jon651]

My vote is for a six pound pipe bomb. A certain NYC brownstone comes to mind.

That certainly is a possibility, much more so than the "cooking meth" guess a few people seem to be stuck on.

There is just one thing missing that would help convince me of the pipe-bomb option (there are many more I would have to see to agree with the meth lab explanation but this one would have to be included):

CRIME SCENE TAPE!

 

[luvsmiths]

That certainly is a possibility, much more so than the "cooking meth" guess a few people seem to be stuck on.

How are you so sure that he wasn't building a pipe bomb while he was cooking Meth.

Some people can do more than one thing at a time, ya know.
This *IS* Florida.

 

[Golphin]

Let's look at the pictures, shall we...

The damage is confined to an area at the back of garage or the room behind it. The resulting damage indicates an explosion but not much (if any) of a resulting fire. This is backed up by the fact there is lots of small debris and a partial collapse of the truss system over the point of origin but the rest of the house remains intact with no smoke staining or sooty runoff. In fact, there is no water or sooty runoff from the fire department down the driveway, where you would expect it to be. Witnesses also say they heard "an explosion".

This was not a natural gas explosion (from a gas leak to a clothes dryer or gas water heater, either of which you would expect in that area of the house). If it was, the damage would be much (MUCH) greater - with possible secondary damage to surrounding structures. The same can be said if it was a meth lab - plus there would be more evidence.

The news reported that investigators already made the determination that it was a result of the reloading activity and the smokeless powder. There is nothing shown that contradicts this conclusion. I would not be surprised if the homeowner/reloader may have had a fan or an AC unit running in his work area that may have stirred up some powder, or possibly tipped over his container by accident. Get enough of it airborne and it WILL explode. Heck, wheat dust will explode. I also wouldn't hesitate to believe that he may have been smoking or was using some electrical equipment that may have generated an open spark.

The most amazing part about what I see is that he is actually using his garage FOR A CAR!

Never underestimate "Florida Man"...

Smokeless powder is not dust and will not explode unconfined in some kind of chamber or something that will build pressure. Also the article did not say the investigation determined that it was the result of reloading or powder. It said they determined it was not a crime. If the house filled with gas from a stove leak or being on and was ignited that would not cause the dryer to be damaged if it was in the garage.

 

[Jon651]

How are you so sure that he wasn't building a pipe bomb while he was cooking Meth.

Some people can do more than one thing at a time, ya know.
This *IS* Florida.

Here's my observations and reasoning:
* The damage does not match an incident with cooking meth.
* The lack of a post-explosion fire does not match an incident with cooking meth.
* The lack of ancillary evidence does not match an incident with cooking meth (remains of supplies, fuel, equipment, etc. - stuff that would easily be found by the responders and investigators).
* And finally, the fact that law enforcement and fire investigators from several agencies already went through the aftermath and didn't say a word about this being an incident with cooking meth. I would tend to believe the pros.

As for a pipe bomb, I definitely considered that possibility. However, there are two things that go against that conclusion, even though they are not as clear-cut as what I point out above:
* The guy who got injured would have clear indications of a pipe bomb explosion - namely, shrapnel wounds from the casing materials. You wouldn't be able to hide that.
* And again, there were investigators from several agencies that went through the aftermath and not a single mention of a pipe bomb was made.

Trust me, if this had been a confirmed meth lab or pipe bomb they would have been shouting it from the rooftops - and the news coverage would have been far more extensive. I think a pipe bomb or homemade explosives may still be a possibility as an unexpected spark from a dozen different sources could have triggered the event or prematurely activated the detonator equipment, but the experts at the scene didn't seem to want to draw that particular conclusion - and they would have no reason to keep it from the press if they did.

Yes, Florida Man can be very inventive and resourceful but this is not a binary choice - he could have screwed up on a dozen different unmentioned or unrelated things and blown up his house! I'm not a reloader, but regardless if reloading was involved or not I think this is still a cautionary tale and a good reminder for those who do to please be careful!

 

[Jon651]

Smokeless powder is not dust and will not explode unconfined in some kind of chamber or something that will build pressure. Also the article did not say the investigation determined that it was the result of reloading or powder. It said they determined it was not a crime. If the house filled with gas from a stove leak or being on and was ignited that would not cause the dryer to be damaged if it was in the garage.

If the house filled with gas and was ignited, there wouldn't be much left to identify it as a house.

I'm not pushing the "gas" theory because reportedly the neighbors said there was no gas service to that neighborhood - and the damage was pretty isolated to either the back of the garage or the room just behind it. The overhead pictures are pretty clear on exactly where the incident was located.

Also, if this had been a gas explosion I would expect to have seen the news mention that the gas company responded. In fact, if it was a gas explosion I would have expected that point to have been mentioned often - and loudly. In fact, I would have expected to see a report of SOMEBODY saying "Yeah, I smelled gas...".

As I said in a previous post - Florida Man is quite resourceful and inventive. He could have screwed-up a dozen different things and blown up his house!

 

[Golphin]

Here's my observations and reasoning:
* The damage does not match an incident with cooking meth.
* The lack of a post-explosion fire does not match an incident with cooking meth.
* The lack of ancillary evidence does not match an incident with cooking meth (remains of supplies, fuel, equipment, etc. - stuff that would easily be found by the responders and investigators).
* And finally, the fact that law enforcement and fire investigators from several agencies already went through the aftermath and didn't say a word about this being an incident with cooking meth. I would tend to believe the pros.

As for a pipe bomb, I definitely considered that possibility. However, there are two things that go against that conclusion, even though they are not as clear-cut as what I point out above:
* The guy who got injured would have clear indications of a pipe bomb explosion - namely, shrapnel wounds from the casing materials. You wouldn't be able to hide that.
* And again, there were investigators from several agencies that went through the aftermath and not a single mention of a pipe bomb was made.

Trust me, if this had been a confirmed meth lab or pipe bomb they would have been shouting it from the rooftops - and the news coverage would have been far more extensive. I think a pipe bomb or homemade explosives may still be a possibility as an unexpected spark from a dozen different sources could have triggered the event or prematurely activated the detonator equipment, but the experts at the scene didn't seem to want to draw that particular conclusion - and they would have no reason to keep it from the press if they did.

Yes, Florida Man can be very inventive and resourceful but this is not a binary choice - he could have screwed up on a dozen different unmentioned or unrelated things and blown up his house! I'm not a reloader, but regardless if reloading was involved or not I think this is still a cautionary tale and a good reminder for those who do to please be careful!

Even with all that smokeless powder does not explode. That is why you can order 8 lb jugs of it and have it delivered to your home. If it would do that there is not way they would ship it to you and Bass Pro Shops would not have 20 lbs of it on the shelf in the store. I don't know what it was but it was not 6 lbs of smokeless powder sitting on the reloading bench and not packed into some kind of pressure building container