Fond du Lac, WI – One person was injured when a vacant home in Fond du Lac exploded shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday.
An elderly next-door neighbor received minor injuries when the duplex at 352 Twilight Trail exploded.
Fond du Lac Assistant Police Chief Steve Klein said the dispatch center received several reports of an explosion near Holy Family Catholic Community Parish at 4:55 a.m. Thursday.
The explosion was so loud that even officers at the police department downtown heard it, Klein said.
The duplex is in a small subdivision just east of the Bypass and north of Fourth Street Road. Klein said the duplex was under construction and owned by Signature Homes Properties.
General Manager of Adashun Jones/Signature Homes Glenn Elmer said the unit was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. He said he was told the cause of the explosion was likely a natural gas leak.
The unit that exploded was a unit that was owned by a customer, but was not occupied yet, Elmer said. They were in the process of moving in.
The structure is considered a total loss, Elmer said. Elmer said Signature Homes plans to rebuild immediately.
We’re just thankful (the owners) weren’t home and it’s only property damage at this point, Elmer said.
Klein said one-half of the duplex was completely gone and the other side sustained significant structural damage.
Alliant Energy turned off the buidling’s gas service so police and fire investigators could determine the cause of the explosion, Klein said.
Officers evacuated nearby residents, Klein said.
The explosion is still under investigation, but Haase said officials are examining the furnace and hot water heater.
We’re very fortunate that it appears to have been no serious injuries as a result of the explosion, otherwise we could have had a very tragic day here, Klein said.