House Explosion Rocks Local Neighborhood

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House Explosion Rocks Local Neighborhood

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Sep 20, 2007 at 8:31 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 30, 2008 at 11:10 PM EST

(WSBT) Dozens of fire investigators are working with the Indiana Fire Marshal's office to find out what caused a house to explode in northern St. Joseph County. The explosion happened shortly after 8 p.m. Thursday in the 2200 block of Arbor Pointe Drive — just south of the Indiana-Michigan state line.

The blast leveled the home to its foundation, and scattered debris up to 500 yards away, leaving dozens of families to pick up the pieces.

Officials say at least eight other homes sustained damage, and some blocks away bear visible signs of the explosion — from broken windows and bent doors, to siding ripped off the sides of houses.

Crews believe it may have been a gas explosion, but investigators have not confirmed that. NIPSCO crews will remain at the site through the night testing other nearby lines. Homes in a two block area were evacuated shortly after the blast.

One man inside the home was taken to the hospital with what Clay Fire Marshal Dave Cherrone called "serious" burns. Neighbors at the scene say he was conscious and speaking when firefighters pulled him from the burning wreckage. He was taken to the hospital, then flown by medical helicopter to a nearby burn unit.

No other injuries were reported.

The American Red Cross was on scene Thursday night and is helping families find housing. They've opened an evacuation center at the Calvary Baptist Church, 3001 W. Cleveland Road.

Stay with WSBT and wsbt.com for updates.

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