Welcome to Newton Fire Department

Able Oil Explosion

Welcome, Today is: Thursday, August 28, 2008

At 5:04pm on March 14th, 2003 the Newton Fire Department was dispatched for a reported gas leak at the Able Energy Company on Diller Ave. The department had responded there numerous times for similar type calls at this location, but this one was going to prove to be different. Newton Police arrived on scene and reported a major gas leak at that address and requested the fire department to expedite. With in seconds of that report a tremendous explosion rocked the Newton area. The explosion shook homes up to 30 miles away and was heard even farther. It instantly leveled a 2,000 square foot building on the site and severely damaged 4 homes located adjacent to the lot. The shock wave blew out windows across town.

A quick response on the part of the employees at Able as well as the police, fire, ems, and other emergency management agencies all contibuted to avoiding what could have been a much more devastating disaster. The exact cause of the explosion was listed as an illegal transfer of propane from a transport trailer to a delivery truck. An employee drove away from the tanker trailer believing that the truck had been filled. The truck, still connected, tore away the fill line and 2,000 gallons of propane vented out until it found an ignition source. Thankfully the employee who was filling the truck evacuated the yard of the employees. All told only 16 injuries were reported. Approximately 300 firefighters from 47 departments responded over the 6 day period. It is estimated that 5 million gallons of water were used from start to finish. The total cost of this disaster was over $7,000,000. 3 homes were condemned and the Able Energy Company continues to fight to return to their site and reopen business.