Lawsuit blames HVAC work for Ohio propane blast that burned firefighter and daughter

A Northeast Ohio firefighter and his teenage daughter have sued Anderson Heating & Cooling and parent Atrium Home Group over a Montville house explosion that allegedly stemmed from a newly installed propane furnace and gas line. The filing says the November 2025 blast left both family members severely burned and destroyed their home.

Why it matters: - The lawsuit seeks to hold an HVAC contractor and its parent company liable for a propane explosion that left a firefighter unable to return to work and caused permanent injuries to his daughter. - The case centers on whether basic gas-safety checks and code compliance were skipped before the family’s home was left occupied.

What happened: - Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy filed the lawsuit July 1, 2026, in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, case number CV-26-141783. - The complaint names Anderson Group Holdings, LLC, doing business as Anderson Heating & Cooling, and Atrium Home Group, LLC, doing business as Atrium Home Services. - The suit says Timothy Tobin, 47, and his 19-year-old daughter, Savannah Tobin, were inside their home on Hart Road in Montville on Nov. 21, 2025, when it exploded. - The family alleges propane leaked from a newly installed furnace and gas line, built up inside the home, and ignited. - Timothy Tobin and Savannah Tobin escaped the burning structure. - The home and everything in it were destroyed.

The details: - Timothy Tobin is described in the filing as a military veteran and firefighter of nearly 30 years. - The complaint says Timothy Tobin suffered severe burns over roughly one-third of his body. - The filing says he spent nearly a month at MetroHealth Medical Center’s burn unit in Cleveland, including about three weeks on a ventilator. - Timothy Tobin underwent multiple surgeries and skin grafts, and the complaint says he has permanent scarring and lasting damage to both hands. - The suit says Timothy Tobin can no longer work as a firefighter. - Savannah Tobin suffered burns to her hands, face and legs that required skin graft surgery, along with additional injuries described in the filing. - The complaint alleges Anderson Heating & Cooling and Atrium Home Services negligently installed and failed to properly test the propane system. - The filing also alleges the companies did not follow national propane safety codes, including standards set by the International Residential Code and the National Fire Protection Association. - The lawsuit says Atrium, through its “Atrium University” training program, was responsible for training the technicians who performed the work. - Attorney Jordan D. Lebovitz said federal, industry and state regulations require technicians to check for gas leaks and confirm safe equipment operation before leaving a job. - Lebovitz said the family “paid for it with their bodies” and that the lawsuit aims to prevent a similar incident from happening to another family.

Between the lines: - The filing turns a single house explosion into a broader negligence case about training, inspection and who is responsible for safety failures after installation work. - The allegations could raise scrutiny of how HVAC and propane work is tested before a system is put back into service. - The case also highlights the long-tail costs of blast injuries, including lost wages, permanent scarring and ongoing medical care.

What's next: - The case will move forward in Cuyahoga County court unless the parties reach a settlement or the court dismisses the claims. - The Tobins are seeking accountability and damages tied to the injuries, property loss and long-term impact described in the filing. - Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy says it has handled catastrophic injury cases across Ohio for decades.

The bottom line: - The lawsuit says a preventable installation failure turned a home heating job into a life-changing propane explosion.