Vapor Caused Explosion

An explosion that killed a man and damaged homes throughout a Costa Mesa neighborhood last week was caused when vapor from one of the many chemicals in the victim’s garage ignited.

It was originally thought that Robert Jamison Marshall, 68, might have been working with a welding torch in his garage before the early morning explosion on Feb. 28, but fire officials dismissed that report.

“We have no reason to believe a welding torch had anything to do with it,” Costa Mesa Fire Marshal Tom Macduff said. “The liquid vapor could have been from gasoline, paint thinner or an aerosol can. They were all present in the garage.”

A series of blasts from the garage blew the walls of Marshall’s garage and townhouse from their foundation and shattered windows and bent metal garage doors through the Monticello Townhomes community.

The explosion led authorities to believe that a hydrocarbon vapor was present. Macduff said investigators do not know what set off the blast. “It could have been a cigarette lighter, a water heater igniting. We’ll probably never know.”

Marshall, whose body was found inside his garage, was identified Wednesday by the coroner’s office, which had to use dental records.

“The only hazardous materials you should have in a garage is what is absolutely necessary for upkeep,” Macduff said.