Feb 19, 2009 11:03 pm US/Eastern
Woman Killed In Somerset House Explosion
Neighbors Evacuate To Chace Elementary School
SOMERSET (WBZ) ―
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Gas crews can be seen working in the area two hours after the house exploded.
WBZ
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The home's contents could be seen strewn across the roadway and neighboring yards.
WBZ
A middle aged woman and her dog were killed when a house exploded in Somerset Thursday afternoon, the State Fire Marshal's Office said.
Residents of the densely populated neighborhood were asked to evacuate after the house exploded on New York Avenue around 6:30 p.m.
"It's total devastation over there," said Board of Selectmen chairman William Meehan. "It looked like a twister had gone through."
Meehan said the house is completely leveled to the ground. Two nearby homes suffered heavy damage from the blast.
View:
Map of neighborhood
"It's pretty incredible. Total devastation. In my 25 years as a firefighter I've never seen anything like it," said Somerset fire Chief Scott Jepson. "There was nothing left of the original home. Two houses, one adjacent and one across the street were severely damaged. They are probably structurally unsound."
The identity of the person who was killed has not been released. Meehan said he believed she was the only person living in the home.
Neighbors were asked to evacuate to
Chace Elementary School at 538 Chace St. Police went door-to-door alerting residents in Americana Terrace of the situation.
GAS LEAK INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE CAUSE
Several fire crews responded to the explosion. Fire investigators say they are focusing on a gas leak as a possible cause of the explosion.
Jepson said New England Gas crews were on scene before the explosion investigating several reports of a strong gas odor near the home.
New England Gas Company services the area and said it has crews on scene. Gas and power were shut off to the neighborhood.
Read:
what to if you smell natural gas
RESIDENTS SHAKEN BY STRONG BLAST
Neighbors reported feeling the blast from up to a mile away. One firefighter suffered minor injuries putting out the blaze. He is expected to be OK.
Listen:
Phoners of neighbors describing explosion
"All I can tell you is I was on the phone and my house shook," one neighbor told WBZ. "As you can see I'm still extremely nervous. I opened my kitchen door and I saw the flames – a lot of black smoke, and a lot of sparks. I pray for anyone who was in that house or around there. God help them all."
The home's contents could be seen strewn across the roadway and neighboring yards.
Neighbor Foo Kwan said all the windows in his house had been blown out by the blast.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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