Flames illuminated the night sky as volunteers from four local fire departments, Collins, Collins Center, Langford-New Oregon and Morton's Corners were summoned to the scene of a structure fire at 4587 Woodside Road in the Town of Collins late Friday evening (Feb. 20). Volunteers from Lawtons and Springville Fire Departments were dispatched as stand-by units.

     Morton's Corners Assistant Fire Chief Frank Boice was on his way home from a family celebration when he heard the Collins and Collins Center Fire Departments being dispatched to a possible structure fire on Woodside Road. As he arrived at the scene, Boice immediately notified Helmuth Fire Control that the fire was a "full working structure fire," involving both the 28-foot by 48-foot building housing the Woodside Septic Excavation Business and an attached one bedroom 28-foot by 28-foot apartment of Martin Jasinski.

     Boice radioed for medical assistance; a burn victim had been located.

     Collins Center Fire Chief Mike Finch, the first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on the scene, tended to burn victim Martin Jasinski, who indicated he had "opened up the door and it blew up."

     Fire Investigator Steven Meerboth reported that the victim stated he had entered the building through a door on the northwest corner of the business, walked through the building into the mud room of his apartment to call his dog. It was upon Jasinski's return through the business section of the building that the explosion occurred.

     Jasinski was transported by ambulance to ECMC where he was listed in serious condition and placed in the Intensive Care Burn Treatment Unit (ICU) with second- and third-degree burns. His condition was upgraded to fair on Monday, and hospital spokespersons indicated that they anticipate Jasinski will be released within a week. The dog suffered a burned nose, but otherwise remained unscathed.

     Erie County Fire Investigator Steven Meerboth credited the quick reactions of volunteers, who secured the flow of propane from two above-ground propane tanks located just 27 feet from the inferno, thus averting additional disaster. Meerboth and Investigator Kevin Mahoney were assisted by veteran Investigator Vincent Pupa. The trio spent the weekend sifting through debris and interviewing the victim, firefighters and neighbors. Meerboth indicated their investigation has qualified the cause as, "undetermined, although we have not ruled out the possibility of a propane-related incident."