Updated September 16, 2026. Three people have now died after a propane leak caused the September 5, 2026 house explosion on Connecticut Trail in Granville, Vermont.
In a September 15 update, Vermont State Police said homeowner Sheila Hammond, 69, died at an out-of-state hospital from critical injuries she suffered in the blast. Liam O’Sullivan, 20, and his mother, Sarah O’Sullivan, 46, both of Essex Junction, also died from their injuries. Two other adults suffered minor injuries.
The Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit classified the explosion as accidental and determined that a propane leak inside the home caused the blast. Investigators have not publicly identified where the propane leaked from, what ignited it, or whether a problem with the propane system, equipment, installation, maintenance, or service contributed to the explosion.
Pritzker Hageman’s propane explosion lawyers represent people seriously injured in propane explosions and families who have lost loved ones. A legal investigation can begin while the official investigation continues to preserve critical evidence, determine why propane leaked, and identify the person or company legally responsible.
Were You Injured in an Explosion?
What We Know About the Granville, Vermont House Explosion
| Incident Detail | What We Know |
| Date | September 5, 2026 |
| Location | Connecticut Trail in Granville, Vermont |
| Cause | Vermont State Police determined that a propane leak inside the home caused the explosion |
| Official Finding | The Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit classified the explosion as accidental |
| Fatalities | Three people died: Liam O’Sullivan, Sarah O’Sullivan, and Sheila Hammond |
| Injuries | Two other adults suffered minor injuries |
| Key Investigation Questions | Investigators have not publicly identified the source of the propane leak, the ignition source, or the equipment or work connected to the leak. |
What Caused the Granville, Vermont House Explosion?
A propane leak inside the home caused the September 5, 2026 Granville house explosion, according to Vermont State Police. Investigators classified the explosion as accidental. The blast happened at about 7:45 p.m. at a home on Connecticut Trail in Granville.
Three people died from injuries caused by the explosion. Liam O’Sullivan, 20, died at the scene, and his mother, Sarah O’Sullivan, 46, died after being taken to Gifford Medical Center. Vermont State Police said on September 15 that Sheila Hammond, 69, who owned the Granville home, also died while receiving treatment at an out-of-state hospital for critical injuries sustained in the blast. Two other adults suffered minor injuries.
Although investigators have identified propane as the fuel involved, they have not publicly identified the source of the leak, the ignition source, or the equipment or work connected to the failure. They also have not identified a propane supplier, service company, contractor, manufacturer, property owner, or other party as responsible. Those unanswered questions are central to determining how the explosion happened and if another party may be legally responsible.
What Investigators Still Need to Determine About the Propane Leak
Vermont State Police have determined that a propane leak inside the home caused the Granville explosion, but investigators have not publicly identified where the propane escaped, why the leak occurred, or what ignited it. Those unanswered questions are important because they can help identify the cause of the leak and any company, contractor, or product that may be legally responsible.
A propane explosion investigation may examine:
- where the propane leaked from, including piping, regulators, valves, fittings, connectors, appliances, or other components
- what caused the leaking component to fail
- where propane accumulated inside the home and what ignition source triggered the explosion
- recent propane deliveries, service calls, repairs, appliance installations, or other work involving the fuel system
- inspection, maintenance, leak-check, and pressure-testing records
- who installed, inspected, maintained, repaired, serviced, or supplied the propane system
- any tank, regulator, valve, connector, appliance, or other product that may have malfunctioned or been defective
- what people inside the home noticed before the explosion, including any propane odor, hissing sound, or appliance problem
Investigators may also examine odor fade if people inside the home did not smell propane before the explosion. Propane is naturally odorless, so an odorant is added to create the distinctive warning smell associated with a gas leak. Propane odor fade occurs when that odor becomes weaker or is reduced, which can make leaking propane more difficult to detect. There is no public evidence that odor fade contributed to the Granville explosion, but it can be an important issue in propane leak investigations.
Determining where the propane escaped and why can help identify the companies, contractors, or products that require closer investigation. Evidence of improper installation, inspection, maintenance, or repair may raise questions about a propane company or contractor. A failed regulator, valve, connector, appliance, or other component may raise product liability or maintenance issues. In some propane explosion cases, more than one company may share legal responsibility.
Pritzker Hageman’s propane explosion lawyers can begin a legal investigation while the official investigation is still underway. Families do not need to know exactly what failed before contacting an attorney.
Can I Sue for a House Explosion?
Yes. You can sue for a house explosion when a company’s negligence, unsafe work, defective product, or other wrongful conduct caused or contributed to the explosion.
In a propane house explosion, potentially responsible parties can include a propane supplier or service company, an installer or repair contractor, a manufacturer of a defective regulator, valve, connector, appliance, or other component, or a landlord responsible for unsafe conditions.
The fact that investigators classified the Granville explosion as accidental does not prevent a lawsuit. An accidental propane leak can result from negligent installation, inadequate inspection or maintenance, improper service, or defective equipment.
A house explosion lawsuit can help injured survivors and families pursue compensation from the companies responsible for causing the explosion. Families do not need to wait for investigators to publicly identify a responsible company before speaking with an attorney. Determining what failed and who may be legally responsible is part of the legal investigation.
Contact Eric today and find out how you can get compensation and justice
1-888-377-8900 (Toll-Free) | [email protected]
Pritzker Hageman Investigates Propane House Explosions Nationwide
Pritzker Hageman’s explosion lawyers represent people with catastrophic injuries and families who lost loved ones in explosions across the United States. The firm investigates how explosions happen, preserves the evidence needed to prove what went wrong, and identifies the companies that may be legally responsible.
Pritzker Hageman has obtained major recoveries in explosion cases, including a $10 million settlement for a client severely injured in a residential propane explosion and a $45 million settlement for a client seriously injured in a gas pipeline explosion.
The firm’s burn injury legal team has a longstanding relationship with Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. That work has helped shape our compassionate approach to representing survivors and families facing the medical, emotional, and financial consequences of a serious explosion.
If you or a family member was seriously injured in a propane house explosion, or if your family lost a loved one, you can contact Pritzker Hageman for a free, confidential consultation. Call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or contact us online. There is no fee unless the firm recovers compensation for you.
Granville, Vermont House Explosion FAQ
Vermont State Police determined that a propane leak within the home caused the September 5, 2026 Granville house explosion. The Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit classified the blast as accidental.
That has not been publicly identified. State police have not said whether the leak involved piping, a valve, regulator, connector, appliance, cylinder, tank-related component, or another part of the propane system. The ignition source has also not been publicly identified.
Vermont State Police (VSP) identified Liam O’Sullivan, 20, and his mother, Sarah O’Sullivan, 46, both of Essex Junction, as two of the people who died from the Granville house explosion. The medical examiner determined that both died from blast-related injuries. VSP initially identified homeowner Sheila Hammond, 69, of Granville as critically injured and receiving care out of state. On September 15, police announced that Hammond had died from her injuries. Two other adults suffered minor injuries.
An accidental classification does not rule out negligence or a defective product. A claim depends on evidence showing why propane leaked, who was responsible for the relevant system, product, property, or work, and whether a legally responsible failure caused or contributed to the explosion.
Depending on the evidence, responsible parties can include a propane supplier or service company, an installer or repair contractor, a product manufacturer or distributor, a landlord, or another company whose work created or failed to correct the dangerous condition.
No. A legal investigation can begin while the government investigation continues. Early legal work can focus on preserving physical evidence, obtaining propane delivery and service records, identifying contractors and product manufacturers, documenting losses, and determining whether the evidence supports a claim.
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Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury and burn injuries over 60% of his body in an explosion caused by improperly-odorized propane.
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