Plano Fire-Rescue officials are investigating an isolated gas leak as the cause of a violent explosion that leveled a house and damaged neighboring homes near Park Blvd. and Coit Road. Plano Police on Monday evening have ruled out criminal activity as the cause. The blast, which took place at 4:40 p.m. Monday, made international headlines.
Six Residents Sent to the Hospital
The one-story, 1,691-square-foot home was built in 1981 and last listed on MLS in 2009 as a lease. The home has a gas-starter fireplace, gas cooktop, gas heating, and electric central air.
One adult resident was inside the house in the 4400 block of Cleveland at the time of the explosion and was taken by ambulance to nearby Medical City Plano. Two adults and three children who were home next door sustained injuries and were also transported to MCP and Children’s Medical Center Plano.
Further information about the residents’ injuries has not been released, though reporters on the scene reported a woman was wheeled out on a stretcher, an elementary school-age child was transported with a bandaged hand, and a younger child was carried to an ambulance with unknown injuries. Incidentally, Medical City Plano is a level 1 trauma unit (on par with Dallas Parkland), Collin County’s first and only hospital with that distinction.
Investigation Ongoing
Plano’s bomb squad was on the scene, which is standard protocol. WFAA’s Jobin Panicker reported that the Plano Hazardous Devices Unit employed a canine to search for bomb materials at the scene and received no hits. The Plano Hazardous Materials team is a specially-trained, 30-person unit that provides regional response for explosives, hazardous materials, terrorist bombings, and weapons of mass destruction.
Plano Police determined the house is not a crime scene on Monday evening and turned over the scene to the Plano Fire Marshal and his investigators.
TXU Energy, Oncor, and Plano Fire-Rescue investigators were all at the scene trying to determine what caused the explosion. Photos taken on the scene show at least one ATF official on site.
Crews shut off electricity and gas to the entire block, which is also standard protocol.
“At this point, they do not know the cause and do not want to speculate,” Plano Fire-Rescue officials said in a statement.
Plano Fire-Rescue officials responded directly to one such speculator on Twitter who suggested nefarious drug activities were the cause, asking them not to speculate.
Blast Felt From Miles Away
Plano residents felt the impact of the explosion at the 4400 block of Cleveland at least a mile away and heard the explosion at least two miles away, multiple residents said. A resident as far away as south of President George Bush Turnpike and Frankford reported feeling the blast. This reporter, who resides an intersection away, heard a loud boom that sounded unlike thunder and felt the house shake at the time of the explosion.
Debris and pieces of wood could be seen scattered around the West Plano neighborhood. Windows in homes across the street were shattered and homes on either side of the brick home sustained damage. Cleanup crews worked into the night to clean up the debris.
A few streets over on Denver Drive, resident Jeffrey Blackwell said his home had broken windows and “the whole roof/ceiling seems to have shifted,” he said on NextDoor.
Eyewitness Accounts Vary
Nearby resident Taylor Reddick said he saw lightning strike the home. “I was looking out the window right as the lightning hit followed by a big black plume of smoke and debris shooting in the sky,” he said on NextDoor.
A Ring camera down the street from the home revealed a rolling white cloud of dust after the blast. A Nest camera behind the home was blown off its mount.
Thunderstorms were in the area and active at the time of the explosion but from my location, rain was waning and lightning seemed light.
One resident a few streets away reported on Twitter that their windows were shattered and doors blew open. Another resident on Twitter posted a home surveillance video that showed their screen door handle shaking at the time of the explosion.
Reading through comments on NextDoor, a consensus of residents said they thought a tree had fallen on their roof or a car had hit their home.
Home Built in 1981
From the listing:
“Fantastic single story house located in West Plano area. Great location close to Preston, shopping center, Highway 190 & toll way. Updated include Kitchen, Granite countertops, under mount sink, double ovens, Roll-out trays in the cabinet, bathrooms, mirror, decorative lighting, back splash, double oven. Large living room with bricks fireplace. Designed painting, newly installed Energy efficient Windows. Wood flooring throughout, Vaulted beamed ceiling. Fruits trees, a Pergola in back yard. Build in refrigerator, Microwave with the property.”
