Long Island Explosion Seriously Burns Elderly Smoker, Destroys His House

By Mary Mitchell

Published on June 20, 2006

More than 150 firefighters battled the fire for several hours. Sicari was hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns over 80% of his body, and two of the firefighters were injured. The fire also damaged five other homes nearby. Flying debris caused the partial collapse of the ceiling in the bedroom where neighbor Lucy Acquavella was sleeping; she was not injured.

Sicari was rescued from the blaze by neighbors John Novello, 35, a math teacher and volunteer firefighter, and retired firefighter Dennis Canese, 58. Sicari was able to tell the police at the scene about trying to light the cigarette and the ensuing explosion.

The same day, gas utility company KeySpan issued a statement that natural gas was not involved in the fire. Their crew arrived at the scene of the fire approximately 30 minutes after the 6:55 a.m. explosion. Investigators with the Nassau County fire marshal's office had not ruled out a natural gas leak as the cause.

Ten other homes on Long Island have exploded since 2001 due to natural gas or propane leaks, according to local fire records.

Comment on this article →