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The incident happened just before 1 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at a three-story building in the 1200 block of Harding Avenue. Emergency units arrived to find heavy flames and thick smoke coming from the structure after reports of an explosion.
Fire crews rescued multiple residents from balconies, while others were assisted from inside the building. Officials said firefighters used ladders to reach people trapped outside as flames spread through the structure.
A total of 15 people were hurt. Eight were taken to hospitals, including three in critical condition, while seven were treated at the scene and declined transport. Officials later said five of those hospitalized have stabilized. The fire was brought under control around 5:30 a.m.
The building has been declared uninhabitable, and all residents have been displaced. Reports also indicated that two residents had previously smelled gas earlier in the day before the explosion.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire and explosion, and more details will be released as soon as they become available.
Our thoughts are with all those affected as they recover from this incident.
What Investigators Review After a Building Explosion and Fire
After an explosion and fire in a residential building, investigators typically begin by identifying the origin point of the blast. This helps determine whether the cause may be linked to utilities such as gas lines or electrical systems.
Utility companies often assist in these cases by checking for leaks, pressure issues, or system failures. This information can help establish whether infrastructure problems contributed to the incident.
Fire damage patterns are also closely examined. Burn intensity, structural damage, and debris distribution can provide clues about how the fire spread and how the explosion impacted the building.
