After a house explosion that killed two people and injured several others, the Building Safety Department wants to remind residents to be aware of what’s going on in their neighborhoods.
“You have a right to be safe in your home. So if you think there’s anything going on that puts you at risk or your family at risk, it’s up to you to let somebody know,” Chief Building Official Robert Wallace said.
Lubbock Fire Rescue said the fire started at the back of the Tech Terrace home, then reached some canisters of compressed gas on the property, causing that explosion. According to state filings, the resident who was killed in the blast, John Fleming, had two companies registered to that address claiming to deal with alternative fuels like Hydrogen and Ammonia.
While authorities have not confirmed what types of gases were in the canisters, Wallace said these types of items should never be found in a residential backyard.
“Combustible materials, hazardous materials, and flammable materials in any significant qualities … those are certainly not allowed in a business run out of a home,” Wallace said.
Wallace said our city ordinances follow the International Building, Residential and Fire Codes. Any property with hazardous materials would have a special designation that would require certain types of ventilation and protection against dislodgment, as well as strict inspections.
He said they are working to keep our city safe, but they rely heavily on reports from neighbors.
“Because we can’t police everything as in depth as we need to,” Wallace said. “Then unfortunately when something does happen and somebody gets hurt, then you’ve got a tragedy.”
If you need to report something to the city, reach out to Building Safety, Code Enforcement or the Fire Marshal.
If you want to read what’s allowed according to city ordinances, CLICK HERE.
