A mother and her 2-year-old daughter were badly burned and remain hospitalized.
TAUNTON, MA — A Taunton father said he was on the phone with his girlfriend and their 2-year-old daughter when he heard a loud explosion and the call went dead, moments before fire tore through a three-family home that investigators say was likely fueled by a natural gas leak.
The blast on Wed., Feb. 25 destroyed the building on Plain Street and left the mother and child with severe burns, officials said. The case has drawn attention across the city because it struck during a stretch of extreme winter weather, when deep snow can slow rescue work, and because investigators have not yet pinpointed where the gas escaped or what set it off.
The father, Shnider Germilus, said he was at work when his girlfriend, Lucitha Blanc, began making breakfast with their daughter, Jenelle. Germilus said he was talking with them by phone when Blanc turned on the stove. “All I heard was a big boom, and my daughter, she was screaming and crying,” he said in an interview. Then the connection dropped, he said, and he could not reach them again.
Emergency crews were dispatched to 78 Plain St. at about 9:50 a.m. after the explosion, authorities said. Neighbors described a forceful blast that could be heard blocks away, followed by flames that quickly swallowed the structure. Firefighters arrived to find the home heavily involved, with fire also damaging two nearby houses, officials said. Eight residents were displaced, and the three-family home was deemed a total loss.
Germilus said he tried to understand what had happened while he was still at work. He said he called police and waited for news, scanning social media as videos began to circulate. In one video he saw flames pouring from the building he recognized as his home. “I thought they had died,” he said, describing fear as he rushed to learn where his girlfriend and child had been taken. When he arrived at the hospital, he said, he saw that both had been badly burned but were alive.
Fire Chief Steven P. Lavigne said a preliminary investigation indicates a natural gas leak likely led to the explosion and fire, and officials said they do not suspect foul play. Investigators have said the destruction was so extensive that they could not immediately determine the exact point where gas was leaking or what the ignition source was. Those details often take time to confirm because crews must first stabilize the scene and remove debris safely before investigators can search for evidence in the wreckage.
Officials said Blanc was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment, and the child was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. Germilus said his daughter has been talking and responding to him in the hospital. He recalled that when he first saw her, she greeted him with “Hi, dada.” He described her as strong and said she was still a little kid trying to be brave. In another interview, Germilus said his family has a long recovery ahead but he is thankful the outcome was not worse.
The fire scene unfolded in a neighborhood still digging out from a major snowstorm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the region. Residents said snowbanks and buried hydrants added challenges for firefighters arriving at the Plain Street address. Witnesses and local reporting described neighbors grabbing shovels to clear hydrants and help open paths as crews stretched hoses and fought fire in frigid conditions. City leaders said the response became a neighborhood effort, with residents helping where they could as firefighters worked to keep flames from spreading further.
Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell said the city opened resources for those forced from their homes and worked to coordinate support for displaced residents. Officials urged the public to avoid the area during the initial response so emergency vehicles could move through narrow streets lined with snow. As crews worked, the burned structure stood partially collapsed, and authorities restricted access while investigators and demolition crews prepared to secure the site.
Police later released body-worn camera video from first responders, showing intense flames and a chaotic scene as officers and firefighters arrived. The footage captured the urgency of the initial minutes, as responders assessed hazards and tried to locate residents, while heavy fire and debris limited where crews could safely move. Officials have said no firefighters were injured.
According to accounts shared by fire officials, Blanc managed to get out of the building but realized her child was still inside and went back in. Lavigne said that reentry is when she suffered injuries. Germilus described the moment he learned what she had done as both terrifying and heroic. He said she ran back through smoke and flames because she remembered the baby, and he credited her quick decision with saving their daughter’s life.
Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office and state police fire investigators have been working alongside local authorities to determine the sequence of events that led to the explosion. Officials said the investigation will include reviewing utility infrastructure, checking for signs of a gas migration pathway, and examining appliance and piping remnants that can be recovered from the debris. Because the building was heavily damaged, investigators have cautioned that confirming an exact origin area and ignition source may take additional time.
The explosion also renewed local focus on the risks of gas leaks in older housing stock, particularly in multi-family buildings where multiple units share utility lines and where a leak in one area can travel through walls and floors. Investigators and officials emphasized that the preliminary finding addresses the likely fuel source but does not yet answer how gas accumulated or what sparked it. Those findings typically come later in a final report.
For Germilus, the timeline is measured in seconds. He said the call was routine at first, with breakfast underway, and then it turned into panic. He said he remembers hearing the “boom,” then his daughter’s crying, and then silence. Later, in the hospital, he said his girlfriend spoke to him and he could see the injuries on her body. He said she remained focused on their child and on recovery.
Residents near Plain Street described being jolted by the sound and feeling vibrations, then seeing smoke rise. Some said they ran outside immediately, watching as flames pushed from windows and the roofline. Others described hearing sirens within minutes, but also seeing how snow and ice complicated where vehicles could park and how quickly responders could deploy equipment. One nearby resident, William James Shivers Jr., later described helping in the response and said he was proud of how neighbors and crews moved quickly despite the conditions.
City officials said displaced residents needed immediate shelter and support, including help replacing essentials lost in the fire. A fundraiser was created for the family, and Germilus said the community response has been overwhelming. He said the support has helped his family focus on hospital visits and on the next steps, including securing temporary housing and preparing for months of medical care and rehabilitation.
As of Fri., Feb. 27, the mother and child remained hospitalized, officials and family said. The damaged structure was set for demolition as crews worked to make the site safe, and investigators continued to search for answers about the leak’s source and ignition. Officials said additional updates are expected as the investigation progresses and once the scene work is complete.
Author note: Last updated February 28, 2026.