Man burned in Explosion
ABOVE: According to neighbors and others at the scene, the fire that destroyed an apartment at 204 S. Woodrow started in garage where a tenant was working on his car. Landlords Mark and Diane Yoder were out of town for the weekend but their daughter, Staci Spolar, who was on the scene said the structure may need to be torn down completely. BELOW: Gallup firefighters pace the scene of an apartment fire at 204 S. Woodrow Saturday night. Police and fire crews blocked off a large area of downtown Gallup including blockades on Coal and Aztec.— © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

A firefighter aims his hose at the flames of an apartment fire at 204 S. Woodrow, Sunday. The fire was presumed extinguished Saturday nigh that flared up again eary Sunday. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Philip Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — An explosion at 204 S. Woodrow Ave. Saturday evening left one man burned and his mother homeless.

Molly Williams said she was upstairs in her Woodrow Avenue home Saturday night when she heard a loud explosion, ran to the basement door and saw the walls engulfed in flames. Her son, Troy Spolar, 37, had been in the basement garage repairing his car.

“He was working on his fuel filter,” Williams said, adding that her son had ensured good ventilation in the basement garage.

She said she heard three subsequent, smaller explosions.
“It just went so fast. I mean, the flames were licking up the walls in no time.”

She said Spolar suffered burns and was transported immediately to the hospital, and that she expected to take him to a burn unit in Albuquerque Monday.

“They were talking about skin grafts,” Williams said.

Spolar had been knocked unconscious and didn’t recall the events leading up to the explosion, she said.

Williams said that as she stood outside watching firefighters battle the blaze, she continued to ask about her two cats, which were apparently unharmed. However the rest of her home and belongings are gone.

“I’m so thankful ... furniture can be replaced,” Williams said.

Dr. Mary Poel, the hospital administrator on duty Sunday, refused to disclose Spolar’s status.

Williams, who said she hadn’t any renter’s insurance and may be faced with extensive medical bills, said she will be staying with her nephew in Grants until she gets back on her feet. To offer assistance or make a donation, contact Williams through her nephew, Larry McClellan, at (505) 658-5017.