ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Fire investigators have determined that last week’s deadly home explosion in the Cape St. Claire community was caused by an accidental propane leak that ignited while the homeowner was working on the residence’s HVAC system.
The explosion occurred around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at a home on Green Holly Drive in the Annapolis area.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department Fire Marshal Division announced its final determination on Aug. 24, following an investigation conducted with state and federal partners.
Investigators determined the homeowner inadvertently cut a propane line while performing HVAC work inside the residence. The damaged line allowed propane to leak and accumulate inside the home without the homeowner realizing it.
While continuing to work in the area, the homeowner used a metal grinder, which investigators identified as the ignition source.
The resulting spark ignited the accumulated propane gas and caused the explosion.
Family members told investigators the homeowner has a diminished sense of smell, which may have affected his ability to detect the odor associated with the leaking propane.
The explosion occurred last week at a home on Green Holly Drive in the Annapolis area.
The blast caused the single-family home to collapse, killing 76-year-old Linda Synowczynski and trapping an adult man beneath the debris.
Firefighters rescued the man, who was flown to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. The fire department said Monday that he remains hospitalized in serious condition.
An Anne Arundel County police officer also suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries during the response and was transported to a local hospital.
Investigators had previously determined that a propane company that responded to the residence earlier that day did not cause or contribute to the explosion.
Initial information showed the company had been at the property approximately an hour before the blast to fill a propane tank.
The investigation has now been completed, with fire officials classifying the explosion as accidental.
Fire officials reminded residents that propane and natural gas are highly flammable and warned people to leave immediately if they smell gas or suspect a leak. Officials also advised against operating lights, appliances, vehicles or other equipment that could create a spark near a suspected leak.
Gas-related repairs should be handled by qualified professionals, officials said, noting that people with a diminished sense of smell should not rely solely on odor to detect a possible leak.
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