Investigators were back at the scene of a Kitchener house explosion Friday, spending a fifth straight day at the site as they try to piece together just what caused the blast that rocked southwest Kitchener on Sunday night.
Fire crews say an official determination of the cause could come as early as Friday night.
Shortly before midnight Sunday night, a house at the corner of Activa Avenue and Isaiah Drive exploded.
All four members of the Nguyen family were taken to hospital following the blast, though three were quickly released.
Neighbours wonder if the explosion was caused by gas and question whether there’s any connection between that and an incident last year.
“Six months ago, maybe longer than that, we had somebody come around asking us to leave the house,” said neighbour Tony Rosa.
“There was a gas leak in the area.”
Investigators have been checking out Rosa’s house and other homes in the neighbourhood. They say it’s because many of the homes were built the same, so they can provide a picture of what the Nguyens’ house likely looked like before it exploded.
“We’re just confirming what we’re seeing on site with examples in the real world,” said Tom Ruggle, Kitchener’s chief fire prevention officer.
Although officials seemed to be paying careful attention to the remnants of a gas pipe on the property, Ruggle says that too is nothing neighbours need to worry about.
“All the supply line piping has been checked out by TSSA and Kitchener Utilities. No issues, no problems there,” he said.
“The investigation is limited to the house itself.”
