CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Woodstock Fire-Rescue District is investigating a house explosion that took place Monday after a gas leak.
With much of the cleanup now done, Woodstock Mayor Mike Turner said the city can begin figuring out how it happened.
“Continuing that cleanup, further helping the folks that have been affected by this — both the people that live there, as well as those that are affected in the neighborhood — and then we begin asking the question: How did this happen?” he said.
Officials said they believe the explosion happened because a contractor who was doing sewer work near Lincoln and Tryon Streets ruptured a gas main. Turner said a Woodstock employee alerted his administration at about 12:30 p.m.
Nicor and firefighters were outside the home when it exploded at about 2:38 p.m., which allowed them to quickly respond to the ensuing fire.
The mayor said it was lucky that the owners of the two-story home, which was leveled, were not there. St. Mary’s Catholic School, located across the street, was closed for the holiday.
“When we live in our homes or our apartments or wherever we are, having something like this suddenly happen is very frightening,” Turners said.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while working the massive fire, which enveloped the home and scorched one next door.
A woman named Carmen, who lives down the street, said the force of the blast lifted her off the ground. She said her first thought was that her house exploded.
Mass and classes at St. Mary’s were canceled for Tuesday while shards of glass, bits of insulation and siding still littered their sidewalk and grass.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram