Texas house explosion injures 6, damages more than 20 homes; cause under investigation
Six people were injured after an explosion collapsed a two-story house in Texas and damaged more than 20 neighboring homes, officials say.
A blast inside the two-story house was reported shortly before 11: 30 a.m. local time on April 13, according to the Austin Fire Department. At least 23 neighboring houses also were damaged. Fire officials worked to extinguish small spot fires by the collapsed debris.
Two people were inside the house when it exploded. One was in critical condition and the other in serious but stable condition, Austin Fire Department Division Chief Wayne Parrish confirmed at a news conference.
Another person in a neighboring home also was critically injured, and another reported minor injuries, Parrish said. Two firefighters also received minor injuries during rescue operations.
The explosion brought down power lines and left the area without electricity, according to the fire department. Travis County utility company Pedernales Electric Cooperative worked to restore power.
Explosion considered an 'isolated incident'
Parrish said at a news conference that the explosion an "isolated incident." The Travis County Fire Marshal will be lead investigator in the search for a cause, Parrish said.
"At this point we don't believe that there will be any criminal investigation," Parris told reporters.
Parrish said the blast was heard as far as Georgetown, about 25 miles north of Austin.
"As far as we know, we have accounted for everybody that was in all of the residences. We are on a temporary standdown waiting for excavators to come to help us do more large debris removal," he said.