12/08/2019
A Florida man hunting in Wayne County, Pennsylvania was accidentally killed when a propane heater exploded Saturday.
The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. in a wooded area off Bridge Street in Texas Township, which is about a 45-minute drive northeast from Scranton.
Pennsylvania State Police at Honesdale said Gregory Scheer, 81, of Chiefland, Florida, was inside a hunting stand on the ground at the time, state police said.
Physical evidence and interviews conducted at the scene indicated that Scheer’s portable propane-powered heater possibly malfunctioned or was improperly connected, causing the attached propane bottle to explode.
Following the initial explosion and fire, two additional propane bottles that were nearby exploded as well, state police said.
Scheer was discovered deceased by his friends and the property owner, who was nearby and heard the blasts.
A state police fire marshal responded to the scene to investigate the cause and origin of the fire.
The official cause of death is pending further investigation, state police said.