Grand Junction, CO – A bit more calm Tuesday night in Grand Junction after a gas leak causes a home explosion in a neighborhood just steps away from an elementary school.
Three people were rushed to the hospital, one has since been released.
The leak has also been stopped, but repairs will likely continue through Tuesday night.
Authorities still don’t know the cause but are saying a contractor was working on a traffic signal in the area and could have possibly ruptured the line.
Officers will continue to patrol the area throughout Tuesday night.
Two homes are a complete loss, people are without power and many are still not allowed back in their homes.
The frightening day has left many residents wondering, how could this happen?
“I heard this big boom and I thought somebody hit our house,” said neighbor Leslie Kline.
Smoke fills the sky Tuesday afternoon after a gas leak causes a house to explode, injuring three people.
Officials say two victims were blown out of the house when it exploded, still unsure what caused it.
Nearby residents, fearful for their lives.
“From up in the sky there were ashes coming down, and we looked over to the North and saw flames shooting from the sky,” said Kline.
Fire officials and law enforcement began the door to door evacuations, trying to contain the damage and figure out how this happened.
“It was our understanding that there was some street work and digging; it wasn’t long after that that there was an explosion, a pretty major explosion,” said Grand Junction Police Chief John Camper.
“It just was engulfed in flames; instantly,” said Kline.
Neighbor Leslie Kline says there may have been warning signs for the explosion.
“There was gas, you could smell it, you could smell is all over for at least 45 minutes before that explosion,” she said.
Officials with Xcel discovered the leaking line was a transmission line to Colorado Mesa University, not feeding any residential homes nearby; but gas was still pouring into sewer lines.
“Now it’s just a case of getting that gas out of the sewer lines,” said Camper.
Law enforcement’s main concern quickly became making sure everyone near the explosion was safe, testing levels and opening man holes to let the remaining gas escape.
Tope Elementary, one of the schools that was evacuated will remain closed March 20th, while Grand Junction High School will open as normal.
Evacuations are still in place as of Tuesday at 11pm for people living all along 7th on both sides, from Elm up to Walnut; and Orchard to Walnut from 6th through 8th.
Those people will not be allowed back in their homes Tuesday night.
Authorities are asking people to meet at 8 am March 20th at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on 7th and Mesa to be escorted back to their homes.