Report: Antifreeze sprinkler system may have contributed to fatal explosion
Sierra Sun

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TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Investigators are looking into whether the antifreeze fire sprinkler system at Henness Flats apartments contributed to the Aug. 18 explosion that killed one resident and injured four others.
Last week, the Truckee Fire Protection District on Thursday determined a cooking fire led to the blast, which killed 27-year-old Isela Minutti and sent a 30-year-old man with serious injuries to the burn unit at the UC Davis Medical Center.
According to a Thursday press release, and#8220;… A male adult was cooking with oil in the kitchen when the contents of the pan ignited. He then added water to the pan in an attempt to extinguish the fire. The high temperature of the oil caused the water to vaporize carrying the burning liquid upwards and creating a large fireball.and#8221;
Three children, ages 12, 7, and 10 days old at the time, also were injured; they later were released to family.
Truckee Fire Chief Bryce Keller said the investigation took about two months because the district studied any and all possible contributing factors. Investigators have been unable to speak to the 30-year-old man, who was apparently cooking when the explosion occurred.
and#8220;So far he is still not available to be interviewed,and#8221; Keller said. and#8220;To our knowledge he is still under doctorand#8217;s care in a hospital in Sacramento.and#8221;
Keller said the fire district cannot release the name of the man or others in the household because they were involved in medical treatment and transportation.
Calls to Truckee Police regarding the name of the adult male victim werenand#8217;t returned as of press time Tuesday.
According to the districtand#8217;s investigation report, the only potential contributor not eliminated, besides the cooking fire itself, Keller said, is antifreeze contained in the fire extinguishing sprinkler system.
and#8220;The sprinkler system anti-freeze … cannot be excluded or confirmed as a contributing fuel source without further testing,and#8221; the report states. and#8220;Both laboratory and field tests will be needed to confirm the possibility that the antifreeze/water solution in the piping was capable of creating a combustible fuel/air mixture.and#8221;
The fire sprinklers put out the fire, according to the release, and were taken off line as part of the investigation. The system remained off-line as of Tuesday.
and#8220;The Fire District is working with the building owner to bring all systems back and#8220;On-lineand#8221; in accordance with industry standards meeting or exceeding all state and local ordinances,and#8221; Thursdayand#8217;s release reads. and#8220;In the interim, the building owner has posted a fire watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will continue to do so until the system is back in service,and#8221; the release stated.
Public Information and Safety Officer Gene Welch said the fire district has asked the property owners to bring the sprinklers back online as soon as possible. The fire watch consists of constant patrols from the property owner.
and#8220;We told them the only way they could occupy those units was to maintain a fire watch until the sprinklers are back online,and#8221; Welch said.
Phone calls seeking comment from property owner Cambridge Real Estate Services were not returned as of press time Tuesday.
According to the report, the investigation considered pilot lights, static electricity, igniters, open flame and the electric stove burner as ignition sources, and natural gas leaks, methane gas from the sewer system, a chemical release, formaldehyde release, the sprinkler system solution and the butter and/or cooking oil as fuel sources.
The report details evidence of the explosionand#8217;s force, including glass from the blown-out windows 80 plus feet into the parking lot, interior doors blown off frames and melting damage to furniture.
and#8220;Initially it was very surprising (that the explosion was caused by a cooking fire) and thatand#8217;s why we diligently searched and why we held the report off for so long,and#8221; Welch said.
The fire investigation report was released Thursday, Oct. 15. A hard copy can be obtained at the Truckee Fire District Administrative Office, 10049 Donner Pass Road, for a fee of $15.
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