SCRANTON, Pa. — Police in Lackawanna County say a man caused an explosion when he used five gallons of gasoline to try and burn some trash Saturday in his West Side backyard.
Officers ended up arresting Salvatore Licata, who police say acknowledged using gasoline to set the fire behind his home on the 1600 block of Elizabeth Street. Neighbors whose homes were shook by the 10:30 p.m. blast called the police.
Licata, 45, told the police the explosion was not that loud, so he did not think it that big of a deal.
Licata's wife, Raisbel Licata, told the fire inspector that her husband used five gallons of gasoline.
Salvatore Licata is charged with risking catastrophe and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.
He is free on $25,000 unsecured bail and is tentatively scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 7.
Licata could not immediately be reached for comment.
