One day after an explosion and three-alarm fire destroyed a house on Lake Avenue in Rochester, authorities say its too early to know what triggered the action.
Here’s more on what we know about the explosion, fire and investigation.
The explosion occurred around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at 1128 Lake Ave., a 2.5-story duplex that contained two apartments, said Capt. Greg Bello of the Rochester Police Department.
The explosion
Lt. Howard Villegas of the Rochester Fire Department said that the first responding firefighters confirmed the house explosion and that burning walls from that house had “smashed up against the adjacent houses.”
The duplex was reduced to a pile of debris with only a few walls still standing. It was demolished Tuesday evening, Villegas said.
According to city property records, the 1,960-square-foot duplex was built in 1915 and is owned by QT International LLC in San Francisco.
Was anyone injured?
It did not appear that anyone was inside the duplex when the explosion occurred.
The upstairs apartment was vacant and the lower level apartment had tenants who lived in the house but did not appear to be home when explosion took place, Bello said.
New York State Police K-9 units did not locate anyone inside the levelled house. However since the house was levelled, a large amount of rubble on the site has not yet been removed, Bello said.
What caused the explosion?
What triggered the explosion was not immediately known and remains under investigation as of midday Wednesday, according to police.
“It is way too early to determine if the explosion was accidental, criminal or caused by reckless actions,” Bello said.
What’s next?
The Arson Task Force, which includes Rochester firefighters, detectives from RPD’s Major Crimes Unit and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is investigating the incident.
Anyone with any information or video to call 911, RPD’s Major Crimes Unit at (585) 428-7157, CrimeStoppers at (585) 423-9300, or email MajorCrimes@cityofrochester.gov.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What caused the Rochester Lake Ave. house explosion? Investigation underway
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
