Rodent damage likely behind Fraser Valley RV propane blast: report

A propane explosion inside a Fraser Valley RV on March 3 was most likely caused by rodents chewing through a gas hose, according to a report released this week by Technical Safety B.C. A woman and her dog were injured in the blast.

The RV’s propane refrigerator had been replaced with an electric unit, but a rubber hose remained on the disconnected supply line. Investigators found rodents had damaged electrical wiring and part of the hose, allowing propane to leak into the vehicle. The manufacturer’s alarm was either absent or not working, the report said.

The leaked gas found an ignition source and exploded, blowing out the RV’s wall and roof, Technical Safety B.C. said. Investigators also found a partially open upstream valve, but concluded rodent damage was the more likely cause; they suggested the valve may have been loosened by the explosion.

The daughter of the occupant said the former refrigerator location had become a pantry, leaving the hose difficult to inspect. That limited the opportunity to detect rodent damage before it led to the leak, the agency said.

A GoFundMe identified the woman as recent retiree Silvia Gillis. It says she was rescued by bystanders as the RV caught fire, while her dog, Max, was burned and later struck by a vehicle after running away. The fundraiser had raised about $8,300 as of Tuesday.