Farmington, Maine Explosion Victims Sue Companies Responsible for Blast

Posted by: Curt Varone October 20, 2020 1 Comment

The family of a Maine firefighter who was killed in gas explosion last year, has filed suit today against two companies claimed to be responsible. The estate of Farmington Fire Department Captain Michael Bell and six Farmington firefighters filed suit in Franklin County Superior Court naming CN Brown and Techno Metal Post ME as defendants.

Captain Bell was killed and the firefighters injured in the September 16, 2019 explosion at the LEAP Inc.  According to an investigation conducted by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, an underground propane gas line was severed on September 10, 2019 that resulted in the explosion six days later.

Besides Bell’s estate, his wife, Diana Bell; his brother Fire Chief Terry Bell; Captain Scott Baxter; firefighter Theodore Baxter; Captain Timothy Hardy; firefighter Joseph Hastings; and Deputy Chief S. Clyde Ross joined in the suit. A separate suit was filed by a civilian employee, Larry Lord, who was also injured in the explosion. Attorneys for the firefighters have requested that both suits be consolidated.

Daily Bulldog quoted from the complaint:

  • Plaintiffs were harmed by the blast and suffered extraordinarily severe and permanently disabling injuries.
  • Plaintiff Michael Bell also died as a result of the explosion.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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