Man dies from injuries in Hampstead fire

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The director of emergency management said the Hampstead man who was severely burned in a garage explosion has died.

Tom Collins said Gerald David Stomski, 59, was working on a lawn mower in his garage on March 27 when a gas leak led to an explosion inside. Collins said the man died from those injuries May 31 at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Collins said they’ve been unable to determine what sparked the fire, but comments Stomski made to them led them to believe a light switch could be the cause.

According to a fundraising page set up to help the family, Stomski, who went by Jerry, served as First Selectman of Woodbury, CT, before living in the area.  He leaves behind a wife, three daughters and a son.