A cigarette lighting on a Saturday morning was the spark that set off a home explosion in Carrollton, injuring one, investigators suggest. The incident occurred in the 1800 block of Highland Drive, where an early-morning blast sent a man to the hospital and prompted the evacuation of several homes. Carrollton Fire Chief Michael Thompson explained that it appears a gas leak underground made its way into the home through a bathroom sewer pipe, with speculation there might have been a crack in the pipe, according to NBC DFW.
Running through the ground, the fire chief noted, natural gas sometimes loses its distinctive odor, not waking the six residents inside the house. "When it goes through the ground, dirt and it's filtered, that scene can be removed from it," Thompson said, suggesting that might explain why none of them smelled the gas before the explosion. The unnamed male resident who lit the cigarette caused the explosion around 3:45 a.m. Amazingly, five other occupants in the house, including teenagers, escaped injury, as per NBC DFW.
Subsequent investigations indicated the blast was a result of gas leaking into a sewer line, creating a volatile situation that has been seen before. Experts acknowledge the hazard of gas leaks into sewer lines, known as 'cross bores', which can occur when utility lines are mistakenly installed together. This sort of cross bore had previously led to damages in multiple homes in Waxahachie in 2015. The explosion's cause was a gas line leaking into the sewage line, as reported by CBS News Texas.
Residents like Erika Avalos conveyed their concerns about the evacuation and lack of information surrounding the ongoing threats. "We just don't know anything. They don't tell us nothing," Avalos noted. Despite the concerns, Chief Thompson reassured that the issue was isolated to one home and the neighborhood was safe. Atmos Energy, the natural gas distributor involved, stated that their technicians are working to restore service, and highlighted the importance of acting quickly if one smells gas, according to NBC DFW.
Meanwhile, the Texas Railroad Commission inspector was also on-site as part of the ongoing investigation. Construction crews continued to work into the night, with heavy equipment spread behind the exploded home. Atmos Energy has not directly responded to questions about what led to the explosion or if there had been any prior reports of a gas leak.
