Natural gas buildup is the suspected source of a house explosion in Cleveland, N.D. that injured two men. Thomas Arens and his son Daniel Arens were in the house at 527 3rd Ave. N. when the explosion occurred around 10 a.m. on April 21. They were transported to Jamestown Regional Medical Center for treatment of explosion injuries.
2 hurt in house explosion Saturday in Cleveland, ND https://t.co/nlah9DKmV5 pic.twitter.com/bzA290MWH2
— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) April 22, 2018
Jerry Bergquist, Stutsman County emergency manager, told local media that natural gas buildup was the likely source of the blast which ignited a fire that completely destroyed the home. Only a chimney remains where the house once stood.
Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion but had to wait for the gas and electricity to be shut off before they could fight the fire. A crew from Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. arrived just before 11:30 a.m. and dug in the frozen ground for three hours before they were able to reach the shutoff valve.
The state fire marshall’s office is conducting an investigation and won’t release any information until it’s complete. Fred Pritzker, an explosion attorney, said they’ll be taking a close look at the gas lines inside and outside the house and at the gas appliances for any defects in the valves or hookups. Pritzker and Eric Hageman are the lead explosion lawyers at Pritzker Hageman which represent clients nationwide. Recently, they secured a $40 million settlement for one their clients who was badly burned in an explosion. Contact them If you would like a free, no-obligation consultation about an injury or death that resulted from an explosion.