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25 homes still empty 1 year after 'intentional' house explosion rocked Mississauga

Days away from the one-year anniversary of a colossal explosion that levelled a quiet Mississauga neighbourhood, 25 families are still waiting to move back into their homes.

The June 28, 2016, blast at 4201 Hickory Dr. killed two people and turned their home into a smouldering pit. More than 800 nearby houses, condos and apartments were initially damaged or affected by the blast.

Last December, Peel police revealed that the explosion was "intentional" and ruled it a double suicide. The bodies of homeowners Diane Page and Robert Nadler, both 55, were found beneath the rubble.

"This incident on Hickory Drive shook our entire community. Several residents suffered injuries that day and many were uprooted from their homes," said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie in a press release.

Tuesday afternoon, Crombie, fire Chief Tim Beckett and Coun. Chris Fonseca, who represents the affected area, will hold a press conference to update the public on the ongoing reconstruction efforts.

In the 24 hours following the explosion, 69 homeowners and their families were told it was unsafe for them to return home.

'There's still a long way to go'

Frank Mo lived in a townhouse complex that looks out over "ground zero" of the blast — and he's among the 25 families still waiting to return home.

He's had his move-in date extended multiple times over the past year.

"What's frustrating is not seeing a lot progress," he told CBC Toronto. "Everyone is very anxious to get moving back."

Right now Mo is paying rent on a new place out of pocket after his insurance coverage ran out in April.

The damage to Mo's townhouse was extensive.

While the home was still standing, its roof was destroyed and the inside has to be completely redone, from new subflooring to ceilings and insulation and drywall. There is significant water damage to the interior as well, because the roof was gone for months.

Mo was told his family could move back into the home in September. But at a meeting with contractors last week, he was told the work is about a month behind the already-extended schedule.

"I'm not taking that seriously at this point, because there's still a long way to go, the way I see it," he said.

'The cards we have been dealt'

Barbara Castleberry is in a similar situation. Her family is now staying with relatives in a nearby condo. She's spent the year taking on extra work in anticipation of the costs of moving back in.

"It's not easy to deal with, but those are the cards we have been dealt," she said. "So you just deal with it the best you can [and] try not to stress over things that I have no control over."

The three levels of government have provided a measure of relief.

Last April, Fonseca championed a motion to provide a grant to cover the city's portion of property taxes owed by those residents displaced by the explosion. The federal and provincial governments also contributed, covering the remainder.

Still, the experience has taken a serious financial toll on those who lost their homes.

A year of struggle

Sandra Marasovic and her husband have moved five times in the past year. She said it has been a "year of struggle and a year of work." They're still paying maintenance and landscaping fees for a property they don't live in.

The couple struggled early on with insurance claims, though the issues have since been resolved. Marasovic, however, still questions if the city has done enough to help its residents.

She also has lingering questions about how the incident could have happened at all.

The provincial Office of the Fire Marshall has said that the explosion originated in the basement, where a natural gas line had been disconnected from a hot water heater in at least two places.

Nadler, who died in the explosion, was on parole at the time. A parole officer would make routine visits to the house, which had fallen into disrepair. The couple was unable to make mortgage payments, and neighbours had made multiple calls to the city because the yard was completely overgrown.

"I guess the officer never noticed anything that might be worth reporting? How much power did the parole officer have? Are we even safe moving forward?" asked Marasovic.

She, too, is frustrated by a perceived lack of progress in rebuilding the neighbourhood. The blast forced crews to demolish an additional three homes adjacent to the explosion site. To date, one has been rebuilt, but there are still "three big holes in the ground."

'I don't know how to feel'

Marasovic and her husband have spoken to other neighbours that have already moved back in. She said some of them have expressed that it has been a difficult transition.

"There's still this other phase waiting for us when we move back, but I don't know what it is. I'll be happy to be back in my sacred place, but I'm not sure what's waiting for us."

Mo feels the same way.

"When we look through the back window, we can see the pit," he said. "The ground zero is right behind us. So I don't know how to feel."