NJOnline Bug spray blasts homes, burns woman

04/08/01 By MICHAEL RATCLIFFE

Staff Writer

TRENTON -- A woman was critically burned in an insecticide-fueled explosion that blew out parts of two walls of her apartment yesterday, fire officials said.

Theresa Walker, 38, suffered burns over much of her body in the mid morning blast on North Montgomery Street -- which officials said occurred when fumes from a roach spray were ignited by a pilot light in Walker's kitchen.

Damage was so extensive that three buildings -- Walker's apartment building and two adjacent buildings -- were declared uninhabitable. Almost 20 people were left homeless.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Douglas Pierson said the explosion occurred at 9:49 a.m. as Walker used the fogging-type roach killer in her apartment on the second floor of the three-story apartment building at 312 N. Montgomery St.

At least a half-dozen 6-ounce cans of the insecticide fog were used in the apartment, Pierson said.

Fumes from the insecticide -- which is flammable and is not supposed to be used near an open flame -- accumulated in the apartment until an explosive mixture of chemical and oxygen was reached, Pierson said.

The volatile mix was ignited by the pilot light on the stove as Walker set off a can of roach killer in her kitchen, Pierson said.

"There was a big explosion," the battalion chief said.

The blast caused extensive damage to the two upper floors of 312 N. Montgomery St., Pierson said. The rear wall was buckled and cracked up to the roof, and the second-floor ceiling was buckled and bowed, he said. All the windows on the second and third floors on the front of the building were shattered and much of the surrounding brick facade was blown away. Electrical service wires also were torn from the front of the building, he said.

A large pile of bricks on the sidewalk in front of the building showed the blast's power.

Walker suffered severe second-degree burns to the front of her body, her arms, her neck and her face during the explosion, Pierson said.

Walker, possibly assisted by her children, fled to the fire escape at the rear of the building. From there, she was carried to safety by Firefighter Mike Davis of Ladder 4.

Trenton Emergency Medical Service ambulance personnel rushed Walker to Capital Health System at Fuld hospital. She was later transferred to the burn unit at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, where she was reported to be in critical but stable condition last night, Pierson said.

Walker's three children were not hurt, but were taken to Fuld as a precaution, Pierson said.

Firefighters from Engines 10, 5 and 1, Ladders 4 and 1 and Rescue 1 responded when the explosion was reported. They searched the rubble at 312 N. Montgomery St. to make sure no one was trapped and extinguished a fire that the blast started in Walker's kitchen, Pierson said.

A pet snake was carried out of the damaged building by Davis and Firefighter Frank Wilcox of Engine 1. The pet, which appeared unharmed, was later returned to its owner.

Two adjacent buildings also were damaged by the explosion and were evacuated, Pierson said. The brick facade at the front of the three-story building at 310 N. Montgomery St. was visibly damaged. Damage to the three-story building at 314 N. Montgomery St. was less noticeable.

All three buildings were ruled uninhabitable yesterday because of damage and the need to shut off utilities.

A disaster response team from the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey was on the scene to provide temporary shelter, clothing and food to about 20 displaced residents, Pierson said.

Because of the danger of further collapse, North Montgomery Street was closed, and crowds of onlookers were kept at a safe distance by police.

Pierson said city building officials plan to make a complete inspection of the damaged buildings tomorrow to determine if they can be repaired or if they will have to be razed.

No roaches were killed.

[Okay, so I added the last bit. I had to.]

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2001