Irving, TX – An Irving family escaped without injury after a small gas explosion rocked their house early Monday.
The Irving Fire Department was called about 9 p.m. Sunday to investigate a gas odor near West Northgate Drive and North O’Connor Road, but wind prevented them from pinpointing the source of the smell, Assistant Fire Chief J. Taylor said.
Atmos Energy crews were then sent out, found the source and began excavating the street at the corner of Colgate Lane and O’Connor to make a repair, he said.
Early Monday, Atmos called the Fire department to ask for traffic control, an area typically handled by police, Taylor said. While on scene, firefighters set up hoses in case anything happened.
About 5:40 a.m., as crews were nearly finished making repairs, an explosion occurred near the home’s attic, Taylor said.
The house is a total loss, the family said. Atmos Energy spokeswoman Claire Skillestad said it was too early to determine the cause.
Taylor said it was concerning that something in the house may have triggered the explosion because Atmos crews were working on the main line in the street and not a supply line for the house.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and everyone got out of the house safely. One firefighter was bitten on the hand by a family dog he was rescuing, but he was treated at the scene and continued working.
“We’re very happy that no one was injured in this and fortunate that our crews just happened to be on scene,” Taylor said.
The American Red Cross was called to help the family.
Though the cause of the fire is not yet known, Taylor cautioned people to have their heating equipment serviced regularly.