Phoenix, AZ – Firefighters have responded to a church fire and natural gas explosion in the area of 14th Avenue and Buckeye Road Wednesday evening.
After a search, crews determined nobody was inside the structure at the time of the explosion. The pastor of the church also confirmed that nothing was going on at the church when the fire started.
Residents in the immediate vicinity were evacuated as a precaution, but they were allowed back into their homes after Southwest Gas crews secured the gas leak.
Firefighters said there is a possibility the structure collapsed and that the leak happened secondary to the collapse. The investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing.
There were negligible natural gas readings in the surrounding area after the fire was out. Crews came in to secure the gas in the entire area.
There is no indication that natural gas has pocketed underground.