With no foreshadowing or warning of any problem beforehand, a blast woke up dozens in southern Indianapolis. There was no smell of a gas leak. The blast destroyed two homes and caused dozens more to be uninhabitable.
The explosion killed two people in the late Saturday explosion so powerful that the devastation spread for blocks from its epicenter according to five officials. Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate their Richmond Hill homes. It is most likely that they will not be able to return to their homes. The explosion obliterated the entire foundations of homes and was so loud that it was heard by sleeping people approximately three miles away.
Fire from the blast also set some homes on fire.
“We have done initial testing throughout the neighborhood and have not found any gas leaks," Dan Considine, Citizens Energy spokesman, told IndyStar.com Monday.
"We are still doing additional testing of the gas main and the lines to the homes on Fieldfare Way,” he said. “We have not at this point found any problems with any external gas lines.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been called to participate in an investigation.
Early Monday, Indianapolis public safety director Troy Riggs said forensic investigators are trying to get to the bottom of what set off the blast.
"We need to make sure that we get some of the forensics back and that we follow where the evidence takes us," Riggs told WISH-TV.
"Most of the time when there's a gas leak, people smell it," utility spokesman Dan Considine said. "But not always."
Carson said the National Transportation Safety Board and the federal Department of Transportation, have sent out investigators.
"It could take some time. We've asked people to be patient," Riggs told WRTV.
Dan Able, a 58-year-old state employee who lives across the street from the flattened homes, was puzzled by the blast.
"I'm wondering about all the possibilities it could be," he said.
Authorities set up relief operations at a school and church to shelter those displaced in the blast. Some moved in with friends and relatives. Others found hotel rooms.
Alex Pflanzer was sound asleep when the explosion blew out his windows and his wife started to scream.
"I didn't know what was going on," Pflanzer said. "I thought someone was breaking in the house, because the alarm was going off."
Pflanzer grabbed his gun and checked the house. Then he noticed the front door was open and saw a reddish glow flickering outside.
"I walked outside and all the houses were on fire," he said.
The Pflanzers and their two dogs found a hotel room, but they couldn't coax their panic-stricken cat out of a crawlspace.
"All the material things can be replaced, so I'm not worried about that stuff," he said. "People are a lot worse off than I am. People died, and so our thoughts and prayers go out to them first."
The identities of the two deceased persons have not been released. Southwest Elementary School close to Greenwood will hold a candlelight vigil for second grade teacher Jennifer Longworth. She and her husband, John Dion Longworth, were residing in one of the homes destroyed by the explosion. WTHR-TV reported that friends, family and supporters attended the vigil.
Deputy Code Enforcement Director Adam Collins informed the public that 80 homes were destroye including 31 that might need to be demolished. He estimated the damage at $3.6 million.
Some people were permitted to return to their homes under police escort Sunday, however it was just to retrieve a few belongings. Others whose homes weren't as severely damaged were allowed to return, however they will have to endure without electricity overnight. Other homes are simply not able to be inhabited anymore.
"There are houses that will have to be torn down," Bacon said.
He said the damage could have been more severe. "I know we're very fortunate that some of the people weren't home," he said.
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