Niagara Falls Reporter
Home | Archive / Search
SEP 09- SEP 17, 2014

Natural Gas Believed to be Cause Of Seventh Street Explosion, Fire

By Mike Hudson

September 09, 2014


Sources close to the investigation tell the Niagara Falls Reporter they now believe the conflagration that consumed three Seventh Street residences and left seven families homeless was caused by a workman accidentally cutting into a gas line with a power saw.

Sparks resulting from the saw cutting through the metal pipe ignited the compressed natural gas and resulted in the explosion, sources say.

The workman, who has not been identified, is presumed dead, although his body has yet to be found. He has not been seen by family or friends since the Friday afternoon explosion at 440 Seventh Street, and investigators spent the weekend sifting through the rubble in search of his remains. Two dogs, owned by an elderly woman, also died in the tragedy.

"The explosion blew me against the side of the porch after a big boom," a neighbor said. "I know it was a huge gas explosion or something."

Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms examined the scene to see whether the explosion was caused by a bomb, but rampant rumors of an accidental explosion in an underground methamphetamine lab proved to be incorrect.

Still, representatives from the U.S. Attorney's office in Buffalo were in Niagara Falls as late as Sunday night, leaving no stone unturned in regard to the cause of the explosion and fire.

Falls Police Supt. Bryan DalPorto, who arrived at the scene at the height of the blaze, said the mostly vacant west side of the 400 block of Seventh Street looked like "Berlin after World War II."

Well into Friday evening, a Niagara Falls Fire Department ladder truck kept pouring water on hot spots, mainly on the middle house at 440 Seventh. The other homes are 438 and 442 Seventh.

Niagara Falls Fire Chief Tom Colangelo said every on-duty firefighter in the city responded to the blaze and nearby volunteer fire companies were called in to stand-by at Falls fire stations. Off-duty firefighters were also brought in to assist.

The three residences will be demolished this week, once federal agents complete their investigation.

 

 

 

 

OTHER STORIES THIS WEEK
Bid Rigging in Lockport? RFP for Voting Booth Storage Seemed 'Tailor-Made' to Favor Ulrich
Neighbors Angry Over Little River's Ugly Boat
Neighbors: Double Homicide on Oliver Street May be Connected to Three Men, One Woman Leaving Scene
Destino, a Dem, Breaks From Party, Supports SAFE?Act Repeal
Natural Gas Believed to be Cause Of Seventh Street Explosion, Fire
Still Waiting for Walker to File Campaign Reports Illegal Skirting of Election Law Seems to Bother no one
Dyster's Trash Numbers are Trash Slight increase in recycling doesn't offset spike in costs
Elder Exonerated of Child Sex Charges Just as we Thought
What's Behind Push for Tourism Director? Is Tourism Board unhappy with NTCC, or a plan to reward ?
US Army Corps Reminded of Regulatory Lapses Violations of Federal Law News to Them, IJC
Disagreeing With Dyster Makes You Part of the City's Problems
Niagara Falls Needs a Casino Cash-Spending Plan…Yesterday
Lewiston Board Election May See Dems Take Control
Free Food, Music, Live Animals, and More Free Entertainment this Saturday in Ransomville Pigapalooza 10 open to everyone
Used Book Sale at NT Museum More than 70,000 books to be sold at bargain prices
Wizard of Oz Concert: Live music, Live Acting and Movie At Palace Theater in Lockport, Sept 27-28
Primary Care Physician Joins Memorial, accepting new patients
WBFO-FM 88.7 Launches New Bills Talk Sports Segment
Letters to the Editor
Mayor 2015, No Laughing Matter

Contact Info

©2014 The Niagara Falls Reporter Inc.
POB 3083, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304
E-mail: info@niagarafallsreporter.com
Phone: (716) 284-5595

Publisher and Editor in Chief: Frank Parlato
Managing Editor: Dr. Chitra Selvaraj
Senior Editor: Tony Farina