AMERICAN FORK, Utah – Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal home explosion that claimed the life of one person in American Fork. The incident, which occurred on a Wednesday morning, has raised concerns among residents about natural gas safety in homes.
The area where the explosion took place was cordoned off with fences and police tape, with Dominion Energy workers present since the tragic event. Tammy Beck, whose elderly mother narrowly escaped the explosion, mentioned that Dominion Energy workers had been performing maintenance at the duplex just hours before the explosion.
In response to inquiries about the maintenance work, Dominion officials stated that routine maintenance had been conducted in the area the day before the explosion. This tragic event has highlighted the importance of understanding gas leak protocols and knowing the location of shut-off valves in homes, according to industry experts.
Ryan Snow of Western Heating and Air conditioning, with 30 years of experience, stressed the rarity of home explosions and the significance of recognizing shut-off valves in homes. Snow emphasized the importance of promptly evacuating a home upon detecting the distinct odor of natural gas, as smoke and CO2 detectors may not detect it.
Snow expressed sorrow for the loss of life in the explosion and called for community members to learn from the incident to enhance safety moving forward. Additionally, he recommended annual appliance checks and discussions with HVAC or energy technicians about gas leak protocols as preventive measures.
Officials from the American Fork Fire Department provided no updates on the ongoing investigation into the cause of the explosion. The incident underscores the critical need for vigilance and awareness of natural gas safety measures in residential settings.