Storage Container Explosion: Millersville (Jabez Run)
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time: 9:02 am
Location/Address: 1522 Jabez Run, Millersville, MD 21108
Type of Incident: Explosion/Fire of a Storage Container
Description of Structure/Property: Metal Storage Container (Commercial Parking lot)
Injuries or Deaths: A male in his 30s had opened the container when an explosion occurred inside the container approximately one minute after opening. The male was taken to Bayview Burn Center with life-threatening injuries. A second male sustained minor burn injuries as he attempted to rescue the 30yo male from the fire.
Estimated Dollar Loss: Undetermined
Assisting Fire Departments: Annapolis Fire Department and Fort Meade Fire and Emergency Services.
Other Assisting agencies: Anne Arundel County Police and Maryland Department of Environment.
Number of Alarms: One alarm
Number of Responding Firefighters: 47
Time to Control: Approximately 20 minutes
Area of Origin: Storage Container
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, ignition of heavy equipment came into contact with leaking propane gasses.
Additional Information: Firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting an explosion inside a storage container located in the parking lot of this address. First arriving firefighters reported the contents of the container on fire. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire while first arriving medical personnel provided aid to the victim. The Anne Arundel County Fire and Explosives Investigators responded and determined the cause to be accidental. A leaking propane tank inside the storage unit caused an explosion when a piece of heavy equipment was started inside the unit, immediately after opening the container doors.
UPDATE ON MAY 4TH EXPLOSION
Date: May 24, 2022
Area of Origin: Storage Container
Preliminary Cause: Accidental, ignition of heavy equipment came into contact with leaking propane gasses.
Kevin Zichelli, 33 died on May 19, 2022, as a result of his injuries from the explosion on May 4, 2022. This is the fifth fire death in Anne Arundel County in 2022.
- Danielle Neal, 63 died on April 29, 2022, as a result of her injuries from a fire in her home on April 26th.
- April 13- Joann Marie Smith, 75, died as a result of injuries sustained during a fire in her home on April 11th in the 8200 block of Portsmouth Drive in Severn. The home did have working smoke alarms.
- March 18- Darlene Feeheley, 68, died in a fire in her home in the unit block of Greenwood Avenue in Glen Burnie. The home did have working smoke alarms.
- March 9- Christopher Blaine Isaksen, 62, died in a fire at his home in the 7900 block of Quarterfield Road in Severn. The home did not have working smoke alarms.
There were two fire fatalities from one fire incident in 2021 and three fire fatalities from three fire incidents in 2020.