Homeowner inadvertently caused Cape St. Claire explosion that killed wife, officials say

An explosion in the Cape St. Claire neighborhood last Wednesday that killed one person and left another in critical condition was sparked when the homeowner damaged a propane line while working on the home, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said Monday.

The homeowner, Stan Synowczynski, was working on the home’s HVAC system with a grinder when he “inadvertently cut” the propane line, the department said. Family members told fire officials that he has a diminished sense of smell, which could have contributed to his inability to detect a leak as gas accumulated inside the home.

Sparks from the grinder likely ignited the gas, causing the explosion that killed Synowczynski’s wife, Linda, the department said.

Emergency crews responded around midday Wednesday to calls about the explosion in the 1100 block of Green Holly Drive. First responders discovered a collapsed house and a woman, later identified as Linda Synowczynski, who was suffering from cardiac arrest. She was declared dead at the scene.

Neighbors described the Synowczynskis as valued and generous neighbors. Multiple people, including Joseph Toms, 40, who was visiting the area for his brother’s wedding, assisted medical personnel in recovering the Synowczynskis after their house collapsed.

Toms told The Banner that the roof fell on Linda Synowczynski, who suffered injuries after being pinned to the ground. Her husband, burned and in tattered clothes, walked out of the debris, Toms said.

Stan Synowczynski was taken to the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he was in critical condition. As of Monday, the fire department said he remained in serious condition.

The department’s preliminary investigation determined that the explosion was accidental and not caused by a propane delivery to the home about an hour earlier.

Family members of the Synowczynskis did not respond immediately to requests for comment.