On September 16, 2019 employees inside of a recently renovated two-story administrative office for Life Enrichment Advancing People (LEAP) Inc., a nonprofit that helps adults with developmental, cognitive, and intellectual disabilities, made an emergency call reporting that they smelled propane. No patients were inside and all employees inside of the building evacuated immediately. Captain Michael Bell, 68, responded with the Farmington Fire Rescue to the emergency call. Soon after firefighters arrived on scene and began to investigate, there was an explosion that leveled the building. Captain Bell was killed as a result of injuries sustained in the explosion. Six other firefighters, including the fire chief, and a maintenance worker were reportedly injured and transported to hospitals around the state.
Our condolences to the Bell Family & Friends, Farmington Fire Rescue, and to all affected by Captain Michael Bell’s passing.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
