House Explosion in Cleveland, North Dakota Injures Two

Two people were injured when a house exploded at 527 – 3^rd Avenue North in Cleveland, North Dakota on April 21, 2018. The house was completely destroyed, leaving only a chimney and the basement. Thomas and Daniel Arens were transported to the Jamestown Regional Medical Center for treatment. There is no word on their conditions at this time.

House explosion in Cleveland, N.D., Saturday injures 2 https://t.co/xR3mP0hRRl https://t.co/xR3mP0hRRl

— jamestownsun (@jamestownsun) April 22, 2018

Firefighters arrived at the scene around 10:20 in the morning and had to wait for the gas line to the house to be cut off before they could begin to fight the fire. The gas wasn’t shut off until more than four hours later because the ground was frozen.

Officials think that a natural gas buildup occurred in the house. No information will be released about the investigation until it is complete, according to the state Fire Marshall’s office.

Natural gas can leak from many appliances in a home. It can also leak when there is a break or crack in a gas line. Problems can also be caused when maintenance is performed on any gas appliance, and the person working on the equipment doesn’t catch a defect or problem with the appliance, or makes a mistake while re-connecting a valve or hookup.

Investigators usually look at gas lines coming into the house, lines within the structure, and all gas appliances. These include furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and stoves. A fault or problem with any of these items can result in a gas leak, leading to buildup of gas. Then, all it takes is a small spark to cause an explosion. These ignition sources can be some of the most commonplace events in a home — a furnace kicking in, a light switch being switched on, or a spark from static electricity, for a devastating accident to occur.

Burn patients can have a long road ahead of them. Treatments for burns can be very painful. Physical and emotional scars can last for a lifetime. But you can get help on your journey to recovery.

Experienced explosion and fire attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman have represented clients nationwide. They have secured multimillion dollar settlements for their clients, including a recent settlement for over $30 million. They understand what it means to be injured in an explosion and fire because they have cared for many clients in those exact circumstances. You can contact them for a confidential, free, no-obligation consultation about your injury from an explosion, or an injury of a family member.