|
|
|
An explosion in the 400 block of South 15th Street in Murphysboro destroyed three houses on Saturday evening.
First responders rushed to the scene of the explosion at 436 South 15th Street. That home was completely destroyed by the blast, and the residences on either side were in flames when fire fighters and police officers arrived.
Firefighters battled the blazes, but the homes located at 434 South 15th Street, and 440 South 15th Street, were a total loss, according to a press release from the Murphysboro Police Department.
In addition, residences as far as two blocks away received damage, such as broken windows and cracked walls.
The home located at 440 South 15th Street was damaged by an accidental fire the day before the explosion. That fire forced the residents of the home to seek another place to stay. The home that exploded had been unoccupied for several weeks.
Despite the force of the blast, only two people received minor injuries from items striking them following the explosion.
"It could have been a whole lot worse,'' said Murphysboro Police Chief Jeff Bock.
Bock said he was at home when the blast happened.
"I live on the far west side of town, and I was in my garage,'' Bock said. "I heard it and felt it. I had stuff come off the shelves in my garage."
Bock immediately made his way to the scene. But it took a bit longer than he had hoped due to people gathering to watch the ensuing fires, or just going to the area to find out what happened.
"The biggest issue I have is gawkers,'' Bock said. "People really put themselves in harms way. They were upset with us for trying to keep people back. But it's for their safety. It's a safety issue."
Bock said that besides the houses that were destroyed, several others sustained damage.
"Besides the house that blew up, and the two adjoining houses that were completely destroyed, I think there are two other houses that may not be repairable,'' Bock said. "And there are several others that are damaged."
The Murphysboro Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff, and Illinois State Fire Marshall are conducting an investigation into the blast, which appears to have possibly been caused by a natural gas leak. Ameren Illinois Utilities is also assisting with the investigation.
"They're still working on it,'' Bock said on Monday. "They're still looking into what happened. We're still looking at it as a natural gas leak."
The Murphysboro Police Department was assisted on Saturday night by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, as well as the Grand Tower, Ava, and DeSoto Police Departments.
The Murphysboro Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Carbondale, Gorham, Murphysboro-Pomona-Somerset, Ava, Carterville, Herrin, Carbondale Township, DeSoto, and Williamson County.
An explosion in the 400 block of South 15th Street in Murphysboro destroyed three houses on Saturday evening.
First responders rushed to the scene of the explosion at 436 South 15th Street. That home was completely destroyed by the blast, and the residences on either side were in flames when fire fighters and police officers arrived.
Firefighters battled the blazes, but the homes located at 434 South 15th Street, and 440 South 15th Street, were a total loss, according to a press release from the Murphysboro Police Department.
In addition, residences as far as two blocks away received damage, such as broken windows and cracked walls.
The home located at 440 South 15th Street was damaged by an accidental fire the day before the explosion. That fire forced the residents of the home to seek another place to stay. The home that exploded had been unoccupied for several weeks.
Despite the force of the blast, only two people received minor injuries from items striking them following the explosion.
"It could have been a whole lot worse,'' said Murphysboro Police Chief Jeff Bock.
Bock said he was at home when the blast happened.
"I live on the far west side of town, and I was in my garage,'' Bock said. "I heard it and felt it. I had stuff come off the shelves in my garage."
Bock immediately made his way to the scene. But it took a bit longer than he had hoped due to people gathering to watch the ensuing fires, or just going to the area to find out what happened.
"The biggest issue I have is gawkers,'' Bock said. "People really put themselves in harms way. They were upset with us for trying to keep people back. But it's for their safety. It's a safety issue."
Bock said that besides the houses that were destroyed, several others sustained damage.
"Besides the house that blew up, and the two adjoining houses that were completely destroyed, I think there are two other houses that may not be repairable,'' Bock said. "And there are several others that are damaged."
The Murphysboro Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff, and Illinois State Fire Marshall are conducting an investigation into the blast, which appears to have possibly been caused by a natural gas leak. Ameren Illinois Utilities is also assisting with the investigation.
"They're still working on it,'' Bock said on Monday. "They're still looking into what happened. We're still looking at it as a natural gas leak."
The Murphysboro Police Department was assisted on Saturday night by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, as well as the Grand Tower, Ava, and DeSoto Police Departments.
The Murphysboro Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Carbondale, Gorham, Murphysboro-Pomona-Somerset, Ava, Carterville, Herrin, Carbondale Township, DeSoto, and Williamson County.
