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http://www.nj.com/newsflash/national/index.ssf?/newsflash/get_story.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0658_BC_BuildingBlast&&news&newsflash-national
an injured in Los Angeles housing complex explosion, fire says he caused blast
By SANDRA MARQUEZ
The Associated Press
5/25/02 11:44 PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A man who was critically burned in an explosion and fire that tore through an apartment complex has told fire officials that he disconnected a gas line and then lit a cigarette, setting off the inferno, a fire official said.
Dennis Cohen, 47, remained in critical but stable condition Saturday at Sherman Oaks Hospital. He suffered burns to 60 percent of his body in the blast that damaged about a dozen apartments in a 140-unit complex Friday.
He was the only person to suffer significant injuries.
In interviews with arson investigators, Cohen twice said that he "disconnected the gas connection from the wall to the stove and then he went into the bathroom for an undetermined time and lit a cigarette," said city Fire Capt. Joe Castro.
It was unclear why Cohen disconnected the gas line.
"Right now, we have concluded that the true cause of the explosion is the gas line," Castro said. "And now it's just a matter of determining why the gas line was disconnected."
Cohen could be charged with a crime if investigators determine he acted with criminal intent, said Castro. He said Cohen has no criminal record and residents at the complex had complained of smelling gas earlier in the week.
Investigators sifted through debris Saturday to locate the remains of Cohen's second-story apartment.
"We sifted through and found the stove. Everything supported his initial claim," Castro said.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Submitted on 05/26/2002
Submitted by:
Raymond Ouellette
Reference:
New Jersey Flash News 05/26/02
Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com
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