House explodes in Guilford

 

UPDATE: July 28 – The Vermont State Police are advising that it appears the explosion may have been caused due to a ruptured propane gas line inside the basement of the house, but they still don’t know what caused rupture in the line or what ignited the leaked propane vapor. Detectives are still examining evidence and information collected at the scene. The homeowner remains hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries

© 2016 Telegraph Publishing, LLC

At about 7  this morning, the State Police in Westminster received a 911 call saying that the house at 33 Great Blue Heron Drive in Guilford had exploded. In addition to police, the Guilford Fire Department responded finding the home completely destroyed and its owner, Richard Holden, trapped in the basement. The emergency crews were able to get Holden out of the basement within an hour and he was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Arson Unit and Explosives Ordinance Team, and State of Vermont Division of Fire Safety are investigating the cause of the explosion.

In addition to the Guilford Fire Department, members of the Brattleboro Fire Department, Keene, NH Fire Department, Rescue Inc., State of Vermont Urban Search and Rescue Team, Green Mountain Power, and Guilford Town Highway Department responded to the explosion.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Tyson Kinney of the Vermont State Police- Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4670.