Residents of Austin's District 6 woke up to a jarring scene Sunday morning as a home explosion decimated a residence on Double Spur Loop and left several neighboring properties damaged. City Council Member Krista Laine, who lives nearby and represents the area, expressed her shock and concern over the incident, which was evidently strong enough to be heard all the way to Georgetown: "TDD," Laine told CBS Austin.
At approximately 11:23 a.m., when the explosion occurred, Austin Fire Department teams were dispatched to the scene, resulting in the rescue of three individuals, two from the home where the blast originated and one from an adjacent house all of whom are now hospitalized in critical condition, as the after-effects of the powerful blast have shaken this tight-knit community, and brought attention to the overlapping jurisdictions which can complicate such emergency responses, "With all the different jurisdictions that are engaged, we have a very complex incident that is being addressed right now," Laine explained in a statement obtained by MSN.
Details on what precisely caused the explosion remain unclear, although officials from the Austin Fire Department have confirmed the lack of a Texas Gas service connection to the residence, suggesting that the event was isolated. As the investigation into the explosion continues, council member Laine has vowed to stay up to date with after-incident reports in search of possible enhancements to policy and procedure, bearing in mind the different requirements spanning Travis County and the City of Austin.
In the wake of the tragedy, there has been an outpouring of support for those affected, the Round Rock Independent School District has been proactive in reaching out to offer assistance through their social workers and the American Red Cross is on-site to help; meanwhile, Krista Laine has extended her deepest sympathies and pledged her support, "My heart just goes out to the families," Laine said, reiterating her commitment to the community, "I know this neighborhood is strong and will come together to help each other, and I'll do whatever I can from my position as well," in an interview with CBS Austin.
