Natural gas ruled as cause of Caledon house explosion
Posted February 7, 2019 9:45 pm.
Last Updated February 7, 2019 9:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Investigators have determined that the cause of the blast that leveled a home in Caledon was natural gas, however, it’s unknown if the explosion was accidental or intentional.
Provincial police were called to the scene on Maple Grove Road just before 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 3 and discovered debris scattered over a large area of the neighbourhood. One man, 54-year-old Joseph Westcott, was found deceased among the debris. Officials said no one else had been injured by the blast.
Skye Lorimer, an investigator with the Office of the Fire Marshal, says they pinpointed the source of the blast as coming from within the house.
“It’s a natural gas fueled explosion. How it was released, there’s still one piece of natural gas piping from the house that has been removed and will be examined by our engineers,” she tells 680NEWS.
“It’s not an issue with the natural gas supply from the outside of the home and to their homes.”
Lorimer adds all criminal angles have also been ruled out, dispelling some rumors that the explosion may have been the related to a possible drug lab.
Up to 22 homes suffered some form of damage in the blast with seven to nine of those homes severely damaged. There is still no timeline for when neighbouring residents will be allowed back into their homes.
