A final report from the Ohio State Fire Marshal has concluded that a propane leak in the basement of a Bethel home ignited and triggered the Nov. 19, 2024 explosion that killed two people and badly burned a technician. The single-story house was essentially flattened, with debris scattered across the neighborhood.
Investigators say the blast hit just before 9 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2024, at a home on Vic Joy Drive, leaving two people dead and a third hospitalized, according to The Associated Press. When emergency crews arrived, they were met with heavy fire and a sprawling debris field that stretched across nearby yards.
In audio released by the State Fire Marshal and provided to FOX19 NOW, the HVAC technician who had responded to a no-heat call said he repaired what he believed was a leaky fitting, aired out the home, then flipped the furnace "on" and the house "blew up." He told investigators he did not smell gas because "the smell of ammonia was overpowering" and that dozens of cats in the home masked the odor.
How investigators reached that finding
A state fire marshal investigator wrote that, based on the scene examination, training and witness statements, the cause was "from the ignition of fugitive gas within the structure" and that the furnace cycling in the "on position" would be considered a competent source of ignition, according to WLWT. The fire marshal's report also documented an active gas leak in the basement.
Legal and enforcement
The Clermont County Prosecutor's Office declined to bring criminal charges, calling the available evidence insufficient to prove a crime, FOX19 NOW reported. Federal workplace safety inspectors later issued violations against Motz Heating and Cooling, saying the company "failed to ensure that the employee had effective information and training on the measures necessary to protect themselves from the physical hazards of propane," per WLWT.
Neighbors, animals and unanswered questions
Neighbors told reporters the blast was caught on doorbell video and that first responders found dozens of cats inside the home. Estimates of animals lost vary, with crews reporting multiple deceased pets and only a handful of survivors, according to WCPO. Officials have ruled the blast accidental, but the report leaves open questions about propane piping, appliance condition and whether additional safety checks might have prevented the catastrophe.
More than a year later, families and neighbors are still coping with loss and cleanup, and local authorities say the investigation has closed with an accidental-fire finding. Officials continue to urge residents and service technicians to follow safety protocols when working on propane-fired equipment.
