Report: Someone Turned on the Gas Before Explosion in Plantation, FL

A report by Florida’s Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations says the source of an explosion that injured 23 people at a Plantation, FL shopping mall last month was gas from a line that was opened earlier that morning.  Gas filled the space formerly occupied by PizzaFire restaurant, which went out of business several months before, and was ignited by a spark in an HVAC unit, the report concluded. If authorities can discover who opened the gas valve, criminal charges will be filed.

Investigators determined that a gas valve in or behind the restaurant was opened around 7:00 a.m. on the morning of July 6, according to NBCMiami. The blast, which occurred around 11:30 a.m., destroyed the restaurant, damaged neighboring businesses and sent debris flying 100 yards in all directions. Two people who were seriously injured were taken to Broward Health Medical Center. Others who were injured, many of them from flying debris, were treated at Westside Regional Medical Center.

The shopping mall remains closed.

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