Regina fire department says ‘compromised’ gas line at fault in house explosion

After combing through the wreckage, Regina Fire and Protective Services have determined natural gas caused the explosion that levelled a house on Sunday.

“Fire investigators located a gas line within the property that had been compromised and determined this explosion was related to natural gas,” the fire department said in a statement Monday afternoon. “An ignition source could not be located due to the extent of the damage.”

The statement said the investigation was turned over to Regina Police Service to determine if there was a criminal aspect to the explosion.

On Sunday just before 11 a.m., a four-plex at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Retallack Street that was owned by Regina Housing exploded. Social media posts from people suggested the blast could be heard and felt in areas across the city.

During a media conference Monday morning, Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt said investigators had yet to determine a cause because of the extent of the damage.

Hewitt also said investigators didn’t know if anyone was in the house when it blew up.

According to the statement issued later in the day, searchers didn’t locate anyone in the wreckage.

There was one injury reported to the fire department. A person who lived down the street from the house that exploded suffered minor cuts when a window in their apartment was blown out.

The statement noted the site has been fenced in, which Hewitt earlier suggested was for public safety. The statement also said an apartment building next door that suffered significant structural damage in the explosion will be demolished.