Explosion flattens home on Windsor's east end
A blast that flattened an east-end Windsor home and caused a fire that damaged two other residences may have been caused by natural gas, investigators say.
Windsor Fire and Rescue says it happened at 1452 Francois Rd., just north of Seminole Street and a few blocks west of Pillette Avenue, around midnight.
"The home has pancaked and collapsed," said John Benedetti, an investigator from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal.
On Wednesday afternoon, the fire department tweeted that two nearby homes had been damaged — the damage estimate was $5,000 for one of those homes and $110,000 for the other.
Benedetti said neighbouring homes were not affected by the explosion but rather by the ensuing fire.
Benedetti said the home owner is cooperating in the investigation. He's also working with Windsor police, the Windsor fire department, Union Gas and the Technical Safety and Standards Authority.
"We bring them in when in cases where we suspect there's been a gaseous explosion," Benedetti said of the TSSA. "We're considering natural gas as the fuel involved."
The owner of the home where the explosion occurred was not at home at the time of the blast.
No one was injured by the evening's events, an outcome that police say is a key victory.
"We are happy that no one was hurt," said Windsor police Const. Mike Akpata."None of the neighbours were hurt, none of the adjacent homeowners were hurt."
Susan and Bill Lariviere live next door. Their home was damaged by fire.
"We heard an explosion next door. We thought it was the tree that hit our house. Within minutes our house was engulfed in flames," Susan Lariviere said.
The side of their two-story home is charred and now towers over the flattened home next door.
"Everything's affected by water damage or burnt. It sucks starting over," Bill Lariviere said while choking up.
A firefighter had to escort Bill Lariviere through the home to retrieve his keys and identification.
Francois is closed between Metcalfe and Seminole streets.
