'I was burning alive, trapped alive.' Victim recounts Danbury fire 25 years ago
Jeffrey Keeler spoke to News 12's Mark Sudol to recount the life-changing event of Friday, May 19, 1999 that he and others will never forget.
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Nearly two dozen people died 25 years ago in a building explosion in Danbury. One of the only known survivors of the blast says he died several times.
Jeffrey Keeler spoke to News 12's Mark Sudol to recount the life-changing event of Friday, May 19, 1999 that he and others will never forget.
"I'm working with my brother Joe up by Danbury High. We were doing drainage," said Keeler.
Keeler walked into a liquor store at the corner of Austin Street and Wildman when the multistory structure exploded several times.
"The building was leveled right on top of me. The whole second floor. I was burning alive, trapped alive for 4 1/2 hours," said Keeler.
When Danbury fire crews arrived, they heard screaming from survivors. People who died were taken away in body bags. They found Keeler, who grabbed a firefighter from the rubble.
"We went in, saw where he was, and we knew right then and there that we're not getting him out without a lot of extrication," said retired Danbury firefighter Jim Beers.
"The area that he was under, the actual roof had lifted up and come back down on top of him - so basically the whole first floor was gone," said Danbury Fire Assistant Chief William Lounsbury.
When Keeler was finally pulled from the rubble, he was taken to Danbury Hospital and then rushed to the Bridgeport Burn Center and went into a coma.
"I was told I as pronounced dead. I got fourth-degree burns over 65% of my body. I was revived seven times," said Keeler.
Fire crews say they had responded to that address six weeks before for an odor of gas.
"We found a buried tank an abandoned buried tank, to the left of the building that was an old oil tank that wasn't being used anymore," said Lounsbury.
Danbury fire officials say there was a stream that ran under the building, and it carried gas vapors with it. They say on the day of the explosion the heavy rains forced the water and the vapors up into the building.
"Found an ignition source, whether it be a hot water heater pilot light, a light switch, it could have been anything was the ignition source, and that's what caused the thing to pop off like it did," said Lounsbury.
The corner where the building stood 25 years ago is now an empty lot. Nothing can be built there because the ground is contaminated. The culvert that ran under the building is still there.
The fire was on the front page of the Hartford Courant the next day. The picture hangs in the Danbury firehouse.
Today, Keeler is one of the only survivors of the blast. He lives with the pain, physically and emotionally.
"Broken shattered ankle, broken leg, lost kneecap, two titanium screws. Broke this arm. Told I would never walk again. Went 40% and 60% deaf in my ears," said Keeler.
He says he is grateful to the people who saved him.
"You did something that not only saved a life, but you made an impact on that person's life as well," said Beers.
"All I could do was look up and say thank you Lord, thank you God, thank you Jesus," said Keeler.
There was a day care on the second floor of that building. Students left about a half-hour before the explosion.
Keeler and others filed lawsuits. He says all he received was $100,000, which did not cover his medical bills.
