An explosion believed to be caused by natural gas shook a neighborhood in Salt Lake City early Monday morning, resulting in substantial damage to several businesses near North Temple and Redwood Road. FOX 13 reported that the blast occurred before dawn, disrupting the quiet of the early hours. The aftermath exposed the violent nature of the incident, with storefronts damaged and debris scattered.
Particularly hard hit was a Chevron gas station, where the explosion's force was so strong, it dislodged windows and doors from their frames, ejecting them several yards away from the building, according to KUTV. Firefighters and other emergency personnel responded quickly to the scene, assessing the situation even as the odor of gas hung persistently in the air. Silverthorne, speaking to KUTV, described the event: "It's looking like ... some sort of natural gas incident happened," adding that the gas "found an ignition source, it sounds like it almost kind of blew itself out, and the natural gas was still pouring out and trying to find an ignition source" when crews arrived. Enbridge Gas technicians were dispatched to disconnect the gas line to stop further risks.
As daylight revealed the scope of the destruction, it became clear that the explosion's impact extended beyond the Chevron station itself. At least three nearby businesses also experienced damage, including shattered windows, though they escaped the more severe consequences that befell the gas station. According to KSLTV, these establishments are now grappling with the fallout, as a building engineer was called to the scene to assess their structural integrity. “You don’t want to occupy something that has any load-bearing walls that have been affected or, you know, anything like that. They need to make sure it’s stable before they run businesses out of there,” Silverthorne noted, highlighting the caution being exercised before allowing these businesses to reopen.
Utility services, including gas and electricity, were cut off to the area as a precaution, with officials examining every angle to prevent further incidents and ensure public safety. Emergency services remained vigilant as their investigation continued. They worked throughout the day to measure the full extent of the damage, ensuring residents and business owners can eventually return to safety and normalcy.
