LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The Southern California Gas Company says that there are currently no signs that a natural gas leak caused an explosion that damaged six homes in a West Hills neighborhood on Wednesday.
The incident happened at about 3 p.m. in a home in the 7500 block of Sale Avenue, reports CBS 2. The blast sent debris flying through the area, and damaged five other homes in the area. No serious injuries were reported, though two people received medical treatment at the scene.
The moment of the blast was captured by a neighboring home’s camera security system:
#NEW: Surveillance video shows the moment a West Hills garage explodes. Amazingly, no one was injured. https://t.co/M08fk7toVZ pic.twitter.com/KbsFONUYZQ
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) September 21, 2017
Images of the aftermath were posted up on social by a several reporters:
@LAPD now leads probe into destructive house blast near a day care center. No injuries. Stay w/ @NBCLA #WestHills Photo: Rommel Medina pic.twitter.com/Jr9hy5dpxG
— Beverly White (@BeverlyNBCLA) September 21, 2017
#NEW: Pics of damage from an explosion in the West Hills area. Neighbor says it could be a drug related explosion https://t.co/M08fk7toVZ pic.twitter.com/XaiZxamDKp
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) September 21, 2017
The scene in #WestHills--not #CanogaPark--after a garage explosion yesterday here pic.twitter.com/NABgjhryUS
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) September 21, 2017
A garage door is seen on Thursday morning after the Wednesday afternoon explosion in #WestHills pic.twitter.com/eNcQAdw2hy
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) September 21, 2017
In a release, SoCal Gas said that crews had responded to the scene and have “conducted tests of the company’s pipelines, the service line to the home, and the natural gas meter.” They say they did not detect a natural gas leak from their equipment in the home or the street. However, as a precaution, the company has temporarily shut off service at several homes near the site of the explosion.
A SoCal Gas spokesperson told LAist that the company is still working with the Los Angeles Fire Department to determine the cause of the explosion.
Police say they do not believe that the explosion was drug related, and will not be conducting a criminal investigation:
#DEVELOPING: @LAPD says explosion in West Hills is NOT drug related and is no longer a criminal investigation. They say it could be gas leak pic.twitter.com/LWSUJJEoja
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) September 21, 2017