The house explosion in Austin, Texas, that injured six people and damaged or destroyed 24 surrounding residences illustrates this point perfectly. The explosion first happened on [date of incident] and was determined to be caused by a gas explosion, presumed to be propane. Local leaders noted that the residence that burned had no natural gas service, which was corroborated by the Texas Gas Service.
The explosion completely destroyed the house, shattering windows and shaking walls in nearby buildings. Residents even claimed to have heard the explosion from as far away as Georgetown, nearly 28 miles north. The explosion’s blast radius crushed, blew apart, or stripped the roofs from buildings in the vicinity. Residents were left without power temporarily, but received electricity soon after.
The injured included two firefighters who were first responders to the incident. One person in a neighboring house sustained life-threatening injuries. This blast brought the total of six people hurt in the previous explosion. Two people in the razed home were seriously hurt. One is in critical condition, and the other hospitalized in serious condition.
Residents told the Council that the sound of the explosion was deafening and shocking. One unnamed individual remarked, “It rattled my windows and building,” while Carol Hassell recalled her initial reaction: “I thought maybe a branch had fallen down on my roof.”
Emergency responders are still investigating the general cause of the explosion, as well as potential damage to surrounding buildings. The explosion has led many to call into question safety protocols surrounding gas installations in our homes.