A natural gas explosion tore through a house in Ohio early on Thursday morning, injuring two men and forcing the demolition of multiple homes and garages in the surrounding neighborhood.
Second Victim Found Blocks Away
According to fire officials, crews were first dispatched to a separate address, 1521 15th Street NE, at around 8:21 a.m. after reports of an adult male suffering severe burns. Firefighters, EMS personnel, and fire investigators determined at the scene that the man was the second victim of the earlier house explosion. He was taken to Aultman Hospital and is expected to be transferred to the Burn Center at Akron Children's Hospital.Division Fire Chief Steve Henderson told News 5 Cleveland WEWS that one of the men suffered burns to 80 percent of his body. It remains unclear why the two men were inside the home, which Henderson said was vacant at the time. Henderson told News 5 that copper pipes were present inside the structure, and investigators had not yet determined whether the men would face criminal charges.
Cause Confirmed as Gas Leak
The City of Canton confirmed in a Facebook post that the fire department's investigation determined the explosion was caused by natural gas, though the department said it was continuing to investigate.The force of the explosion was severe enough to knock two homes off their foundations, according to the fire chief, who said that those structures will need to be demolished. Three additional nearby houses could also require demolition.
City Assesses Damage
The fire department said that the city's building code department has assessed surrounding properties and is coordinating with contractors to demolish unsafe structures. The American Red Cross responded early to provide support, while Canton For All People is helping displaced residents secure hotel rooms and long-term housing. Refuge of Hope is supplying displaced residents with personal items and clothing.Both the fire department and the city urged residents to stay away from the site because of debris and ongoing cleanup work. The City of Canton said in its post that it would provide additional updates as the investigation continues.