Dartmouth Man Charged After Sagamore Drive Explosion

DARTMOUTH (WBSM) — Dartmouth Police have charged a resident for his alleged role in the September 2 explosion and house fire on Sagamore Drive that injured one person and killed a dog.

Chief Brian P. Levesque said that Kevin Ruiz, 54, of Dartmouth will be summonsed to court on charges of possession of component parts capable of creating a destructive/incendiary device, possession of explosives, three counts of wanton destruction of property over $1,200, and disturbing the peace.

How the Sagamore Drive Explosion Unfolded

On Tuesday, September 2 at about 12:57 a.m., Dartmouth Police and Dartmouth Fire District 1 received multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion at 20 Sagamore Drive. They arrived to find heavy fire conditions and explosions coming from the home’s garage.

Injuries and Loss From the Fire

All the residents were able to escape the home, but one suffered burns and was transported to a Rhode Island hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. One of the three dogs that was inside the home at the time of the explosion was determined to be deceased at the scene.

Another dog was taken to a veterinarian for emergency treatment, and the third was initially missing before being found unharmed.

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The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad was also called in to assess the situation. Dartmouth Police, Dartmouth Fire District 1, and state police assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office then launched an investigation.

Investigation Into Fireworks and Explosives

Levesque said that the preliminary investigation indicates the explosions were caused by fireworks and related substances igniting in the garage.

“Although the extent of the damage made it impossible to determine the exact cause, investigators believe it was an accidental event,” he said.

That led Dartmouth Police to seek a criminal complaint charging Ruiz in connection to the fireworks that contributed to the explosion and the fire, which was issued on September 18.

Ruiz is scheduled to be arraigned on October 6 in New Bedford District Court.

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

Besides being a fun fact to impress your friends during the finale, knowing what makes fireworks work is a reminder of just how intertwined our daily lives are with Earth’s natural resources. Some of these minerals are considered critical commodities, meaning they’re vital to modern life and can be difficult to source.

So the next time you see a shimmering white sparkle or a deep red bloom over the Mohawk River, you’ll know: there's real science, and some pretty rare elements behind all that beauty.

It all comes down to chemistry. When fireworks are launched, metallic compounds, also called mineral elements, are heated to really hot temperatures. And as they burn, they emit specific colors of light.

The more complex the mix, the more dazzling the display.

Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM