WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — At 8 a.m. Friday morning, the Patriots Club House set alight a grill, as they prepared to cook several boston butts and turkeys for a charity event. More than three hours later, a build-up of pressure and a sudden ignition of gas caused the grill to rapidly open and fire to rush outward towards several in the grill’s immediate area.
The event, Warner Robins Fire Chief Ross Moulton explained, is called a flash fire. The event caused three injuries, and one death.
At approximately 11:20 a.m., Warner Robins Police and Fire, as well as Houston County EMS, responded to a 911 call in reference to an explosion at 200 Tabor Drive. Moulton spoke with The Journal on Monday regarding the incident.
“They had a large grill, probably 15-foot long, and it was a combination of propane and wood,” Moulton said. “We think that when they loaded the grill up, the propane went out temporarily, the flame to the propane went out temporarily.
“It built up propane inside that tank, and when it reached the right concentration with the fire box it was in, that propane lit off, which caused the doors to blow open, it caused a flash fire. It ignited all the gas inside that grill and then went out.”
According to the report from Warner Robins Fire, one victim in the incident appeared to have minor burns to his face, and another had burns to his eyes and face. The third patient, who was unresponsive, sustained a head injury.
Firefighters on scene ensured that the propane supply was turned off and assisted EMS. One victim refused medical assistance and chose to go to Houston Medical, however, the individual with burns to his face and eyes, and the unconscious individual, were both transported to Atrium Navicent in Macon.
The flash fire did not leave any burning debris behind.
According to Coroner James Williams, the victim who received the head injury, identified as 67-year-old Jonnie Lane Probert, of Byron, has died due to his injuries. The conditions of the two other reported individuals, identified by interim Police Chief Wayne Fisher as Michael Hope and David Miller, are unknown at this time.
Warner Robins Fire is investigating the incident. Probert’s death has been ruled as an accident.
HHJ News
