By Phyllis Booth
The Landmark
PRINCETON, Mass. — A Princeton man was killed after a violent explosion destroyed a home at 140 Ball Hill Road, Acting Fire Chief John Bennett said.
A man who at presstime was believed to be Richard Conway, 61, was found in a rear room of the home following the Dec. 27 incident, Bennett said.
Conway lived in the home.
Extreme heat from the explosion and subsequent fire prevented firefighters from entering the building, Bennett said. When they did attempt to go into the home, the floor buckled and Bennett ordered the crew out, he said.
Eighty-eight firefighters from Holden, Hubbardston, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and Westminster assisted at the scene.
The first call came at 10:30 a.m. The home was “fully involved’’ when Bennett, who was the first on the scene, arrived, he said. Portions of the walls and chimney remained standing. The interior was completely gutted.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office at press time.
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