Rapid response.
Relentless advocacy.
Fires and explosions change lives in an instant. Survivors and families are often left facing severe burns, smoke inhalation injuries, wrongful death, and displacement from their homes or workplaces. At McEldrew Purtell, we step in quickly to secure the scene, preserve evidence, and pursue accountability from every responsible party.
We handle complex, high-stakes cases across residential, commercial, and industrial settings -including factory and steel mill explosions – pursuing accountability from every responsible party.
Fire & Explosion Lawyers
With decades of experience in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, our team knows how to navigate cause-and-origin investigations, insurance coverage disputes, and corporate defense tactics. We work with nationally recognized experts in fire science, metallurgy, product design, human factors, and life-care planning to prove what happened, who is responsible, and what your future truly requires.
Our Results
McEldrew Purtell has a proven track record of maximizing recovery for our clients.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Fire & Explosion Resource Guide: Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death
This guide provides an assertive, step-by-step overview of fire & explosion lawsuits â from understanding what qualifies as a case, to navigating the legal process, to securing fair compensation. It is nationwide in scope and geared toward victims of severe injury or wrongful death.
Ways We Can Help
Fires and explosions often leave survivors and families facing lifelong challenges. These cases are uniquely complex, involving utilities and pipeline operators, property owners and managers, contractors, product manufacturers, insurers, and rigorous fire-science standards. Our experienced fire and explosion trial lawyers are prepared to stand with you, secure critical evidence, uncover the truth, and fight for the justice and resources your family deserves.
Residential & Apartment Fires
Claims involving single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, and short-term rentals. We pursue negligent landlords and property managers for code violations, faulty alarms/sprinklers, blocked egress, and inadequate maintenance.
Gas & Pipeline Explosions
Natural gas and propane leaks can lead to devastating blasts. We investigate utility and pipeline operators, contractors, and valve/equipment suppliers for negligent installation, odorization, inspection, or leak response.
Industrial & Workplace Fires
Factory, refinery, warehouse, and construction-site incidents involving hot work, combustible dust, chemical reactions, or electrical faults. We handle third-party liability beyond workersâ compensation to maximize recovery.
Electrical & Appliance Fires
Defective wiring, panels, lithium-ion batteries (e-bikes/scooters/tools), space heaters, stoves, and other household or commercial products. We bring product-liability claims for design, manufacturing, and warning defects.
Building Code & Safety Failures
Missing or non-functioning smoke alarms, inadequate sprinklers, locked or obstructed exits, and non-compliant fire doors. We hold property owners and managers accountable for preventable safety lapses.
Commercial Property & Hotel Fires
Injuries and losses in hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, offices, and retail spaces. We investigate kitchen systems, suppression failures, negligent maintenance, and contractor errors.
Vehicle, Battery & Garage Fires
Thermal runaway in EVs and micromobility devices; garage and charging-area fires. We pursue manufacturers, installers, and premises owners for defective systems and unsafe charging practices.
Factory & Steel Mill Explosions
Incidents involving basic oxygen and electric arc furnaces, ladles, casting lines, coke ovens, and melt shops. We investigate causes such as gas leaks (natural gas/coke oven gas), combustible dust, refractory failures, inadequate maintenance, and molten metal/water reactions.
Chemical Plant & Refinery Explosions
Incidents involving reactors, distillation columns, storage tanks and loading racks, compressor buildings, flare systems, and unit start-ups/shutdowns. We investigate causes such as vapor cloud explosions (VCE), BLEVEs, overpressure/relief-system failures, runaway reactions, valve misalignment, static discharge, hot-work ignition, and breakdowns in process-safety programs.
Donât Just Take Our Word For It
Hear From Our Clients
At McEldrew Purtell, results matter and so does the way we achieve them. While our case outcomes reflect our tenacity in court and at the negotiation table, itâs the voices of our clients that truly capture who we are and why we do this work.
We represent people at the worst moments of their lives: after catastrophic injuries, workplace tragedies, and preventable losses. Through every case, we aim to deliver not just compensation but clarity, confidence, and care.
If youâre considering working with a Philadelphia trial lawyer, we invite you to read what our clients have said about their experiences with McEldrew Purtell. Their words are the most powerful testament to our values, our dedication, and our results.
Learn More
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Propane Explosion Litigation: PA Suffers from Series Explosions
A series of devastating propane-related explosions have shaken Pennsylvania throughout 2023, especially in recent months. Despite propane companies claims that leaks and resulting explosions are rare, an overwhelming number of reported cases have occurred within the state over the last…
How To Know When to Hire a Burn Injury Lawyer
Burn injuries are often painful experiences that require weeks of physical rehabilitation. The mental health effects of burns can be lifelong. According to one researcher, in the United States, about 41% of burn injuries are from flames, 31% from scalding, 3.5%…
Chocolate Factory Explosion in Pennsylvania
Around 5 p.m. on March 24th, 2023, an enormous explosion occurred at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. This deadly incident happened about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia at an R.M. Palmer Company factory best known for manufacturing chocolate Easter bunnies. …
At Least 13 Dead as Fire Rages Through Fairmount Philadelphia Housing Authority Apartments
The 800 block of North 23rd Street faced a deadly fire in the early hours of January 5th, 2022. At least 13 residents of the Philadelphia Housing Authority building have already been found dead, and early reports state that at…
FAQs
Get answers to commonly asked questions regarding fire & explosion injuries and learn how we can help with your case.
What should I do after a fire or explosion?
Prioritize medical care. If safe, preserve photos/videos of the scene, names of witnesses, and any notices from fire officials or utilities. Do not discard damaged items – potentially defective products and components are critical evidence. Contact an attorney quickly so we can send preservation notices and coordinate a joint inspection.
Who can be held liable?
Depending on the facts: property owners/landlords, management companies, utilities and pipeline operators, general and subcontractors, product manufacturers/sellers, alarm/sprinkler contractors, and maintenance vendors. We identify every responsible party to avoid insurance finger-pointing.
The fire marshal closed the investigation. Do I still have a case?
Yes. Official reports are important, but they donât control civil liability. Our experts frequently uncover causes and responsible parties beyond the scope of an initial agency inquiry.
Should I speak to the insurer or sign anything?
Not before youâve spoken with counsel. Seemingly routine forms and recorded statements can limit your rights or shift blame. We handle communications and protect your claim.
How soon should I contact a lawyer?
Immediately. Evidence degrades quickly, and statutes of limitation can be as short as two years (varying by state). Early involvement lets us preserve the scene, coordinate inspections, and prevent spoliation.
Do you handle factory explosions such as steel mills?
Yes. We represent workers, contractors, and bystanders injured in factory and steel mill explosions, including events tied to furnace operations (EAF/BOF), ladle or slag handling, gas systems, or hot-work activities. We coordinate with cause-and-origin experts and industrial safety specialists to determine fault, preserve evidence, and pursue full compensation.