It happened at Doulton Drive around ten in the morning
Authorities said a person called CenterPoint to report the gas leak.
About an hour later, they said the blast occurred, lifting the house from its foundations in the air. The fire then started, leaving only a pile of debris from the house.
CLOCK: The neighbor’s doorbell camera catches the flames of the house fire
HFD said the owner of the burning house was able to get out before the blast and no other injuries were reported.
“It’s an extremely fortunate scenario in which no one was injured,” said Mike Mire, HFD deputy chief. “When an explosion occurs, the pressure waves normally travel and are only blocked by adjacent houses. It’s amazing that the destruction was limited to the only house.”
AIM: HFD Asst. The chief explains what caused the SE home fire in Houston
He also said the fire spread to an adjacent house and a car parked nearby. The blast shattered the windows of nearby houses and caused other minor damage.
SEE: “I thought it was a bomb”: a neighbor describes what she saw and heard during the explosion
The couple who lost their home had been living there for more than 50 years. His family created a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of the damage.
Mire also said the couple has been in contact with the American Red Cross for help.
CenterPoint staff were also able to leave to contain the leak. They said the leak occurred from a two-inch pipe and that they had to work gradually to extinguish it.
“If you smell gas, it comes out,” Mire said in case of future emergencies. “Don’t turn on any light switches. Don’t throw out any flashlights.”
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