LELAND — A month after a townhouse exploded in a Leland neighborhood, investigators are still looking into the cause of the incident, however, they will begin cleanup now that insurance agencies have assessed damage.
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Investigators began clearing debris Thursday, June 19, from a collapsed townhome at the center of a May 16 explosion on Suncrest Way in Leland. This work should be completed by Saturday, June 20, according to Town of Leland’s Fire Chief Ronnie Hayes.
Hayes held a press conference Thursday to outline what was being done since the team last held a community meeting for neighbors on May 20. Hayes said residents can expect future updates on his team’s progress to be delivered through their HOA.
The explosion occurred about a month ago, around 7:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Greens neighborhood. It originated from a single townhouse and caused significant damage to four residential units as the explosion scattered debris across neighboring yards, Hayes said.
Nathan White, the resident of the townhome, was rescued from the unit. White and one other individual sustained injuries. Neither required hospitalization. During initial damage assessments, four homes directly next to the unit were deemed unsafe to occupy due to structural damage and currently remain vacant.
The majority of damage outside the immediate impact area was minor and mostly limited to drywall and garage door damages.
Hayes said he was confident the explosion was an isolated incident.
“I know they’re [neighbors] concerned about this happening in their neighborhood, I don’t think they have to be concerned about that,” he said.
In coordination with property owner insurance representatives and partner agencies, the next phase of work on the site is being completed to clear the area of debris in hopes of learning more about the cause of the incident.
While the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown, it has been confirmed through initial investigations it was not due to criminal activity.
The investigation is being led by Leland Fire and Rescue in partnership with Leland Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the State Bureau of Investigation and private insurance investigators. A mechanical engineer and industrial hygienist will also be on site to assist with evidence analysis.
Hayes said debris removal was delayed as investigators awaited approval from multiple insurance companies to avoid potential liability for damaging evidence.
“We’ve had staff out here checking gas levels on and on for weeks and haven’t been able to find anything,” Hayes said. “So that’s why we were waiting to do it all together as a group.”
Hayes said the teams have been checking the gas lines to see if any leaks could be found in the liquid petroleum tanks that served the house and will be looking closely to find any abnormalities in the structure. With evidence being sent to labs for testing, Hayes was unsure when additional information will be provided to the public and says it’s possible they may never learn the cause.
“But there’s only one way to find out and that’s to get in there and pull it apart,” he said.
Hayes expects to have the investigation finished by this Friday but said it could be extended until Saturday depending on information gathered.
“We’re just looking around, being very careful, thoughtful and deliberate to make sure we do it correctly,” he said.
To allow investigators to work, Suncrest Way has been closed to traffic Thursday and will remain that way on Friday. Residents may still access their homes but must park elsewhere.
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