It happened on Doulton Drive around 10 o’clock in the morning
Authorities said a person called CenterPoint to report the gas leak.
About an hour later, they said the explosion took place, raising the house from its foundation in the air. The fire started after that, leaving only a pile of leftovers from the house.
WATCH: The neighbor’s bell room catches the flames from the house fire
HFD said the owner of the house whose house caught fire was able to get out before the blast and no other injuries were reported.
“It’s an extremely fortunate scenario in which no one has been injured,” said HFD assistant chief Mike Mire. “When you have an explosion, the pressure waves circulate normally and are blocked only by adjacent houses. It’s amazing the destruction was limited to the only house.”
SEE: HFD Asst. The chief explains what caused the fire in SE 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 further 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 have lived in it for more than 50 years. Their family created a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of damages.
The groom also said that the couple was in contact with the American Red Cross for assistance.
CenterPoint staff was also able to exit to contain the leak. They said the leak occurred from a two-inch pipe and they had to work gradually to stop it.
“If you smell gas, get out,” Mire said in case of future emergencies. “Do not turn on any light switch. Do not turn on any flashlight.”
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