By Associated Press - Monday, January 13, 2014

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) - Investigators say a fire in a Rock Hill home that killed a 98-year-old man started when the victim was taking apart a propane cylinder to sell as scrap metal.

Rock Hill Fire Department investigator Capt. Karen Kane said the man thought the 25-pound cylinder was empty, but it still had gas inside, which caused the explosion and fire Thursday.

Fred Cathcart was found dead in the home, while a woman inside was taken to a burn center in Winston-Salem, N.C.



Authorities are ruling the fire in the single-story home not far from Winthrop University an accident.

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