Stamford, CT- A massive explosion destroyed a home in a quiet Connecticut neighborhood and flames spread to at least three other houses, causing extensive damage.
Fire and emergency crews rushed to the blast site at 305 Webbs Hill Road in North Stamford, after it was reported 1:54 p.m. Tuesday.
When the fire department and police arrived at the scene there was no house left. It was in a million pieces, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia told the Daily News. The home was completely and totally destroyed.
Fortunately there were no fatalities and no one was seriously injured, Pavia said. The homeowner was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Debris rocketed as far as 400 feet from the house and several other homes were severely damaged.
They are being evaluated right now by the city building department to determine whether the damage was structural or not, Pavia said.
Antonio Pisanelli, who lives slightly less than half a mile from the sit, heard the blast while he was watching television.
My whole house shook and I got scared! I thought something happened to my house, Pisanelli said.
He closed his window to keep out the heavy smoke before checking to make sure that his property was all right. There were embers and hot ash scattered across his lawn.
Then he walked down to the blast site to see the damage himself.
It’s a big hole! No more, no sidewalk, nothing! he said.
Firefighters have already doused most of the flames.
Authorities think the incident was the result of a gas explosion. There was a propane tank on the property that firefighters are still working to extinguish.
Once that’s out a more thorough investigation will take place, Pavia added.
Technicians from Yankee Gas, one of the state’s natural gas providers, were on the scene.
Yankee Gas spokesman Mitch Gross told the Daily News that their services had no connection to the blast.
We were requested to come to the scene by the Stamford Fire Department, Gross said. That is standard procedure. There is no natural gas service in that area of Stamford.
After talking to The News via telephone, Pavia and the city’s director of public safety, Ted Jankowski, addressed local media outside the Lakeside Diner’s parking lot on Long Ridge Road.