Spray foam vapors lead to deadly Walker County fire, officials say
Walker County Fire Rescue trucks arrived at 116 Alton Terrace Spur on Tuesday morning to find a small detached building fully engulfed in flames. Investigators later determined a sudden chemical fire inside the building killed 38-year-old Michael Jam
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. – Walker County fire officials have identified a 38-year-old man who died Tuesday morning in an accidental fire sparked by spray foam insulation vapors.
What we know:
The incident happened on Tuesday at 8:25 a.m. on Alton Terrace Spur after a neighbor reported a fire. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from a small detached building near the road.
After extinguishing the fire, crews discovered the body of 38-year-old Michael James Carney inside. A neighbor told investigators they saw Carney enter the building shortly before the fire started.
Investigators determined the fire was accidental and stemmed from applying spray foam insulation in a small, enclosed space without adequate ventilation. Flammable vapors built up inside the confined area and ignited from an unconfirmed heat source.
Officials clarified that although the fire ignited rapidly and violently, it was an intense flash fire rather than an explosion. The incident marks Walker County’s first fire-related fatality of the year.
What we don’t know:
Investigators have not yet confirmed the specific heat source that sparked the accumulated vapors.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine Carney’s exact cause of death.
The Source: Information in this article was provided in an updated news release from Walker County Fire Rescue and the Walker County Fire Marshal’s Office.
