NORTHAMPTON — Nobody was injured when an explosion occurred in a backyard shed in Florence on Thursday afternoon.
According to Northampton Fire Rescue, a small fire started first inside the shed, at 45 Austin Circle. The fire heated numerous aerosol paint cans, which then exploded, said John Garriepy, deputy chief of EMS. The explosion in turn caused a fire.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 12:45 p.m., and Northampton Fire Rescue put out the fire with a hose.
Garriepy said the cause of the initial fire is unknown. At least one of the home’s residents was thought to be an artist, which might account for the presence of the paint.
The explosion did little damage to the sheet metal exterior of the shed. The same could not be said for the inside of the structure.
“It’s all torched in there. Everything in there is all burnt up,” Garriepy said.
The scene was cleared within the hour.