Mystery Widens After Explosion Damages 6 West Hills Homes
WEST HILLS (CBSLA) — Firefighters responded Wednesday to a house explosion in West Hills that damaged at least six homes.
Splintered debris landed on several homes in the immediate vicinity of the blast. At least five homes suffered some level of damage because of the explosion, Stu Mundel reported in Sky 9. Lots of windows were blown out.
The explosion was reported in the 7500 block of Sale Avenue. The home involved appeared to be a back house or guest house.
No serious injuries were reported. Two people were treated at the scene.
Mundel captured images of rescuers saving a small dog and returning it to the distraught homeowner.
A large piece of plywood could be seen about 100 feet above the ground stuck in a tree.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation but a preliminary explanation would appear that gas was involved.
SoCalGas was quick to point out that the explosion was not attributed to natural gas. They also said the explosion took place in what appeared to be a detached garage with no appliances that used natural gas.
Authorities said that the investigation veered into a "criminal" investigation.
Neighbors told CBS 2's Tom Wait it sounded like an earthquake.
By 10 p.m., the LAPD told Wait the house was not a drug lab and that there was no illicit activity behind it.
75-year-old Hilda Lira was at her table eating – the explosion blasted out a window right in front of her. Jjagged shards of glass cameclose to her face. Hilda is relieved she's okay, but there's so much to clean up.
Her windows were blown out; she lives directly behind the explosion.