Few details are still known following a home explosion in South Omaha Tuesday morning.
Around 8:15 Tuesday morning, the explosion leveled a house and severely damaged two neighboring homes near 51st and L streets.
Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Scott Fitzpatrick confirmed two people were killed and that two others were critically injured in the explosion that leveled the house at 4810 S 51st St. A dog was also pulled away from the scene and given oxygen, he said. Another dog was deceased at the scene.
Two homes next to the exploded house caught fire following the blast, causing heavy damage. MUD shut off gas service around the area and OFD evacuated the entire block on both sides, Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick says Omaha Police are assisting fire investigators to determine the cause of the explosion. Crews are expected to remain on scene for the majority of the day on Tuesday.
Neighbors in the area told 6 News they could feel shaking from the explosion from blocks away.
Debris from the blast traveled across the street. Marianne Distefano tells 6 News she could see the aftermath from her front porch. “I was in the other room in my house, and I heard a loud explosion — I thought it was my basement or something in my house,” she said. “When I cam outside, all I saw was the house burning, completely burning.”
She said the blast was so loud and intense, it shook the walls inside her home. “It was horribly loud. It sounded like someone bombed the house — sounded like someone dropped a bomb, it was that loud,” Distefano said. “It knocked things off my garage; rakes and things fell off.”
You can read the Omaha Fire Department's Tuesday afternoon statement below:
The Omaha Fire Department responded to a house explosion this morning at 0815. As crews were responding, heavy black smoke was seen from several blocks away. As crews arrived they extinguished the fire on the houses surrounding the house that exploded and started evacuation of the surrounding houses.
Crews called for a second alarm response at 0823. The second alarm response was called for to help extinguish the fire and evacuate the rest of the block. We called for the utility companies in OPPD and M.U.D. to assist with shutting off gas and power to the affected area.
We can confirm that we had two fatalities from the explosion. Omaha Fire & Rescue did transport two additional people from the scene to CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy in critical condition, as Code 3 trauma center patients. One dog was found deceased on scene. OFD crews also assisted another dog on scene with oxygen, we have been told that this dog is doing well at this time.
Omaha Fire Investigators are investigating the cause of the explosion, Omaha Police are assisting in the investigation as well, which is standard protocol when we have any fire related fatalities. This will be a lengthy investigation. Please advise people to stay clear of this area, as 51st St has been closed from L St. to Holmes St.
The house that we were called to for the explosion is a complete loss and was leveled in the explosion. The houses to the North and South of 4810 S. 51st St. have extensive damage to them.
The Omaha Police Department will be releasing the names of the deceased and those that were injured after identification is confirmed and next of kin has been notified.
(Photo by WOWT 6 News)