A second person has died after a house explosion in the Cape St. Claire neighborhood last week when the homeowner inadvertently damaged a propane line while working on the home.
Stanley Synowczynski, 75, was badly burned in the explosion last Wednesday, which killed his wife, Linda Synowczynski. He died from his injuries Thursday evening, according to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department.
First responders were called to the 1100 block of Green Holly Drive around noon on the day of the explosion and found the home had collapsed. Linda Synowczynski was in cardiac arrest when responding medics arrived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Stanley Synowczynski was airlifted to the Johns Hopkins Burn Center at Bayview.
Investigators with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department determined the explosion was accidental, originating from an accumulation of propane. Investigators found that Stanley Synowczynski was working on the home’s HVAC system when a propane line was “inadvertently cut,” according to a news release.
Propane leaked from the damaged line without Stanley Synowczynski’s realizing it. He used a metal grinder, which became an ignition source and caused an explosion. His family told investigators that Stanley Synowczynski had a “diminished sense of smell,” according to a news release.
Investigators also determined that a company that delivered propane to the house earlier in the day did not play a role in the explosion.
The fire department advises people against doing any gas-related work on their own, as propane and natural gas are highly flammable.
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