Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991 TAG: 9102140412
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE:
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Short
The explosion at the Four Seasons Apartments occurred about 2:35 p.m. The resulting fire was contained in about 45 minutes, said Capt. Bill Lewis of the Fire Department.
Several other apartments were slightly damaged by the blast. The cause of the explosion has not been determined.
The apartments are in Albemarle County just outside of Charlottesville.
The 20-year-old man injured in the blast, Ronald Gentry, was in critical condition in the University of Virginia Medical Center's burn unit, hospital spokeswoman Katherine Johnson said.
Residents said they heard a thunderous explosion and looked out to see a column of black smoke.
Woodrow Luckett said, "A guy came out with his hair on fire. He was kind of dazed but he was walking. They hosed him down with foam."
"I heard the boom," said Peggy Aglubat. "It shook my glass china cabinet and things went falling."
Debbie Walker said, "I had ordered a pizza and I had just opened the door for the pizza guy. He heard the boom and ducked into the grass." - Associated Press
by CNB