BEAR, Del. — No one was injured, but several structures sustained damage following the explosion of a propane tank on Delmarva Central Railroad maintenance equipment Saturday afternoon (Nov. 1, 2025).
Officials say a 500-pound propane tank exploded about 12:30 p.m. because of a malfunction “during the heating process of the tracks,” Robert Fox, deputy chief of the Delaware Fire Marshall’s Office, told the Newark Post. The explosion along the tracks near Wrangle Hill Road destroyed the maintenance-of-way machine and drew a response from multiple fire agencies, as well as the New Castle County paramedics.
At least five homes were damaged by the blast, along with a church and several businesses.
KYW-TV obtained video of a ground-shaking explosion with a massive fireball. The blast brought down ceiling panels at the nearby Refuge Nation Church and damaged at least five homes along with several businesses.
John Grimsley, pastor at the church, told the station, “We’re probably not going to be having servce here for a few Sundays, but thank God everybody is okay.”
Bear is approximately 10 miles south of Wilmington, Del., and 40 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
The Delmarva Central, one of four railroads owned by Carload Express, operates 188 miles of former Norfolk Southern trackage in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
