What caused a loud boom and flames to erupt from the street in the French Quarter around 5:00am?
"This morning we had a challenge in the French Quarter with the explosion and the fire," said Col. Terry Ebbert, New Orleans Director of Public Safety and Security.
He explained that officials are blaming human waste.
"It appears that we had... methane gas underground."
Where did it come from?
"That is probably is due to (the) sewage system."
He says the fumes from deteriorating waste somehow ignited and sent flames erupting from the street on Dauphine near Toulouse.
WWL TV reports the State Fire Marshal's office indicated a faulty Entergy electircal line sparked the blast.
There were no injuries.