Man killed in Crestwood house explosion; home leveled, officials say
Man killed in Crestwood house explosion; home leveled, officials say
A 76-year-old man is dead after a house explosion Thursday afternoon in south suburban Crestwood, officials said.
CRESTWOOD, Ill. - A 76-year-old man is dead after a house explosion Thursday afternoon in south suburban Crestwood, officials said.
What we know:
The explosion happened just after 2 p.m. in the 14000 block of Kenneth Court.
When firefighters arrived, the home had exploded and was engulfed in flames, according to Crestwood Fire Department Chief Jonathan Newton.
While battling the fire, crews learned a man had been inside the home at the time of the explosion.
Due to extensive debris, firefighters were unable to locate the victim and shifted the effort from a rescue to a recovery mission.
Fire officials determined the cause was a natural gas explosion. The home was leveled, and a neighboring house was also damaged, according to Newton. No other injuries were reported.
What's next:
The man’s identity has not yet been released. Recovery efforts are ongoing.