2/4/2004
Media Contact:
Captain Gregg Harris |
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EXPLOSION LEVELS EASTSIDE INDIANAPOLIS HOME
Firefighters approach flames leaping from crater and neighboring home
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Feb. 4, 2004) - A tremendous explosion leveled one home and damaged more than 60 neighborhood structures early today. Authorities suspect natural gas attributed to the early morning blast in the 300 block of South Ritter Avenue on Indianapolis' eastside. An occupant in the leveled house was injured. A neighbor, David Clayton, suffered an asthma attack after he dragged the injured man away from the burning crater.
The explosion was reported shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the home of Robert Oliver, 57. He suffered second and third degree burns on his hands and cuts over the remainder of his body. He also had injuries to his throat and lungs. Investigators said Oliver's mother had been living in the house, but was admitted to a hospital two weeks earlier.
Firefighters monitor burning gas line in crater left by blast.
Flames from the gas burned for several hours before Citizens Gas Company workers could dig up the street to shut off the line. The blast left a crater of burning debris where the house once stood. Roof pieces were found in nearby trees. The blast toppled a utility pole around the corner severing power lines.
Roofing from leveled house was found in a tree two doors from explosion.
A house to the north was moved off its' foundation and set on fire. An outside wall on the house to the south was blown away. The front wall of a nursing home across the street was buckled.
Buckled wall forced nursing home occupants to be moved from building.
Neighbors to the east, awakened by the explosion, found a picture window had disappeared. An occupant heard Oliver yelling for help, but by the time he got dressed, Clayton, 17, had dragged the victim from danger.
When firefighters arrived, they found a large volume of fire in the basement and the house to the north on fire. The fire was brought under control. However, the flame shooting from the broken gas line was permitted to burn as a safety precaution to give gas company officials time to locate and shut off the line.
Gas utility crew work to shut off gas line in street.
IndyGo buses were brought to the Continental Nursing & Rehabilitation Center to transport occupants to other nursing homes. Several were taken to Greenfield east of Indianapolis.
An investigation is continuing to determine what caused the explosion.
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