Staff Reports - A propane tank exploded Tuesday night in a garage on Ridge Road, hospitalizing a man with critical burns. Amador Fire Protection District said that Sean Beckley reported to the 911 dispatcher that a home at 1885 Ridge Road in Amador County was on fire and that a propane tank had exploded in the garage there. Beckley had escaped the burning structure with severe burns to his upper body and head. He was treated by American Legion Ambulance personnel and then transported by air ambulance helicopter to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.
Beckley, 45, is the son of the property owner and was living in the detached garage that was involved in the fire, AFPD reported. The 911 dispatcher took the call from Buckley at 5:22 p.m. and firefighters arrived at the scene 5 minutes later, finding the residential garage heavily involved in fire. AFPD Chief Jim McCart in a news release said “firefighters quickly controlled the fire and fire damage was confined to the garage and a small spot of vegetation and did not spread to the main residence.” Battalion Chief Ray Blankenheim reported that the fire was contained at 5:59 p.m.
The estimated monetary loss to the 1,200-square-foot garage was 40,000 dollars. The cause of the fire was under investigation and AFPD said it appeared to have been caused by the ignition of propane vapors. Witnesses said the impact of the explosion had pushed the back of the building out and it was leaning against an additional shed at the rear of the building. The garage door at the front was ballooned out, showing the force of the blast. Firefighters were huddled in a rear corner of the building, hosing down the 100-pound gas tank to cool it down. The tank continued to burn like a roman candle inside the building for close to 30 minutes until the gas finally was depleted. Agencies involved included AFPD Battalion 10, and American Legion Ambulance.
Staff Reports - A propane tank exploded Tuesday night in a garage on Ridge Road, hospitalizing a man with critical burns. Amador Fire Protection District said that Sean Beckley reported to the 911 dispatcher that a home at 1885 Ridge Road in Amador County was on fire and that a propane tank had exploded in the garage there. Beckley had escaped the burning structure with severe burns to his upper body and head. He was treated by American Legion Ambulance personnel and then transported by air ambulance helicopter to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. 
Beckley, 45, is the son of the property owner and was living in the detached garage that was involved in the fire, AFPD reported. The 911 dispatcher took the call from Buckley at 5:22 p.m. and firefighters arrived at the scene 5 minutes later, finding the residential garage heavily involved in fire. AFPD Chief Jim McCart in a news release said “firefighters quickly controlled the fire and fire damage was confined to the garage and a small spot of vegetation and did not spread to the main residence.” Battalion Chief Ray Blankenheim reported that the fire was contained at 5:59 p.m. 
The estimated monetary loss to the 1,200-square-foot garage was 40,000 dollars. The cause of the fire was under investigation and AFPD said it appeared to have been caused by the ignition of propane vapors. Witnesses said the impact of the explosion had pushed the back of the building out and it was leaning against an additional shed at the rear of the building. The garage door at the front was ballooned out, showing the force of the blast. Firefighters were huddled in a rear corner of the building, hosing down the 100-pound gas tank to cool it down. The tank continued to burn like a roman candle inside the building for close to 30 minutes until the gas finally was depleted. Agencies involved included AFPD Battalion 10, and American Legion Ambulance.
