A husband and wife, both 78 years old, were killed Friday morning when their home in Hazel Green, Alabama, exploded. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the deaths of Jimmy and Patricia Stephenson, identified by Coroner Dr. Tyler Berryhill. The call came in around 4:45 a.m. Neighbors reported a boom loud enough to shake nearby homes and knock items off walls, and at least one neighbor captured the blast on video. The cause remains under investigation.
For Suncoast residents, stories like this one hit a little differently. Our region has plenty of older homes, aging gas appliances, and long-time residents who have every intention of staying in place. A house explosion is rare, but the conditions that lead to one, a slow gas leak, a failing connection, a neglected water heater, are not rare at all.
The safety basics are simple. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call for help from outside. Don’t flip switches or use your phone inside. Keep carbon monoxide detectors working and replace them on schedule. If your gas appliances are old and have never been inspected, schedule that visit. It’s a small cost for real peace of mind, especially for the older family members and neighbors we care about.
When was the last time you checked the gas appliances or detectors in your home, or in the home of someone you love?
