UPDATE: McCartys’ Lawyer Relates Their Conditions, Plans Investigation

VILLAS – Shanin Specter of the Philadelphia law firm Kline & Specter is representing the McCartys. He told the Herald Nov. 12 that his firm “has a working theory (as to what caused the explosion). But we are not prepared to share that just yet until we have confirmation. We are investigating why the McCartys house blew up. We hope to get access to the site sometime this week with our own experts.” Specter confirmed that All State Insurance investigators have already been to the property.
As to the McCartys current condition, Specter reported “they were both severely injured. Mrs. McCarty has injuries including broken ankles. She is scheduled to have surgery on both ankles Nov. 13. Mr. McCarty has third-degree burns over a quarter of his body.” Where Mrs. McCarty is awake and alert “though very badly shaken,” Mr. McCarty’s “level of consciousness waxes and wanes.”
The couple will be in for “lengthy hospitalizations” but are “visited frequently by their four devoted daughters,” Specter said.
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James and Evelyn McCarty, both 67, are in “stable condition,” said Villas Fire Chief Rich Harron Nov. 9.
Based on the preliminary investigations conducted by the Cape May County Fire Marshal’s office, ATF, N.J. State Police, Local Fire Bureau, Prosecutor’s Office and Lower Township Detective Bureau, the investigative teams have ruled out natural gas as the cause of the explosion.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation,” said Harron, “but based on the original findings, we are confident that neither the natural gas system with the house nor the installation of the system had anything to do with the explosion.”
Initial indicators are that the explosion could have been caused by propane.
Investigators are still speaking to several neighborhood residents and need to speak to the McCartys themselves before any official cause can be determined.
Two fire departments had already arrived at the scene and the McCartys were out of the house and en route to be medevaced out when Christopher Byron, 21, a resident of 300 block, E. Miami Ave., attempted to cross police caution lines.
Byron “shoved a police officer and tried to force his way onto the scene” said Lower Township Police Capt. Thomas Beeby. “He was held back for his own safety but kept persisting. A scuffle ensued and Byron was arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, aggravated assault on a police officer and making terroristic threats.”
According to Beeby, Byron “told the arresting officers he was going to kill them and their family members.”
Byron is being held on $20,000 bail with no 10 percent option.
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PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
An explosion at a residence in the 200 block East Atlantic Avenue, reported to Lower Township police Nov. 7 at 3:39 p.m. resulted in two injuries and a two-alarm fire. The dwelling, occupied by James and Evelyn McCarty, both 67, was destroyed.
According to a police scanner report at 3:39 p.m., a neighbor reported that there had been an explosion and the roof was blown off of the structure.
First responders reported heavy smoke and flames at the scene.
Shortly after arrival on the scene, police issued a neighborhood evacuation order. Police immediately began warning residents of the potential danger and directed them a safe distance from the scene at Bates and Harvard avenues. “The police did an excellent job of evacuating the area,” said Michael Voll, Lower Township’s Manager. “It was a single family home that was involved.” No other homes were affected by the resulting fire as three Lower Township fire departments and Green Creek Fire Department were dispatched and arrived quickly. Firefighters had to use extreme caution since there were live electrical wires in the vicinity.
“Two people were in the house at the time of the explosion,” Voll said, referring to the McCartys. “One was in the living room and one was in the shower when the explosion happened.” Police officers and neighbors ran in to pull the McCartys from the fire.
“South Jersey gas has recently installed new lines in that neighborhood,” Voll said. “But we don’t have any reason to believe that that had anything to do with the cause of the explosion.”
What may have been the cause is a propane tank that was located on the property. “We’re not certain,” said Voll. “But Police Chief William Mastriana last updated me (around 6 p.m., Nov 7) and told me about the tank.” It should be noted that no official word on the cause of the explosion has yet been determined.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the cause of the explosion.
As to the severity of the explosion, Voll said that the blast “could be felt from miles away.”
A medevac helicopter was dispatched to fly the two victims to a trauma center. There was no further information as to the extent of the victims’ injuries.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the McCarty family,” said Lower Township Deputy Mayor Norris Clark. “In the darkness of this tragedy we saw the best of our community and our first responders. We saw heroic neighbors charge into the burning house to pull Evelyn and James McCarty from the flames, and we saw our good volunteer fire fighters and police come quickly to evacuate people and deal with the fire.”
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Lower Mayor Thanks Responders to House Explosion
Lower Township Mayor Michael Beck is expressing his gratitude to all who came to the aid of a couple whose home exploded and burned Nov. 7 on East Atlantic Avenue in Villas.
“There were many, many private citizens who responded immediately to the location and helped to remove the two victims from the residence despite the fact the situation was not under control at that time,” said Beck. “Without their help, it is doubtful the two victims would have been removed in time before the house was fully engulfed.”
The mayor said he did not know the names of all the people who assisted at the fire scene. He thanked Lower Township Class II Police Officer Corey Scheid, who was off duty at the time of the explosion, for assisting in the rescue.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family,” said Beck.
He thanked Lower Township Rescue Squad, Lower Township police and all the fire companies that responded.
“There were well over 100 first responders at the scene and we want to express our gratitude for their concern and actions,” said Beck.