OXYGEN TANK RUPTURE AND EXPLOSION BELIEVED TO BE THE RESULT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Dorchester County, MD - The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating a recent incident involving the rupture of an oxygen tank at a storage building in Fishing Creek, Dorchester County, Maryland.

On April 19, 2025, the storage structure experienced an explosion that sent an oxygen tank through the roof of the one-story, masonry and wood-framed building. The incident resulted in an estimated loss of $8,000 for the structure and $500 for its contents.

At the time of the explosion, the building was unoccupied and lacked smoke alarms, fire alarms, and sprinklers. The rupture was discovered by a member of the Hoopers Island Volunteer Fire Department who was in the vicinity.

Deputy State Fire Marshals are currently investigating the cause of the explosion. Preliminary findings suggest that recent floods in the area contributed to rust accumulating at the bottom of the tank, compromising its integrity and leading to the rupture.

There were no signs of fire damage or tampering with the tank, indicating that the failure was due to environmental factors rather than external interference.