Explosion badly damages several homes in West Hills

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(FOX 11/CNS) - The cause of an explosion that destroyed a garage in West Hills and damaged five other homes was under investigation Thursday.

No injuries were reported in the blast that occurred just after 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Images from the scene showed splintered lumber, roof shingles and other debris scattered in the rear of a single-family home in the 7500 block of Sale Avenue, near Saticoy Street.

Southern California Gas Company crews tested the utility's pipelines, the service line to the home and the natural gas meter, SoCalGas representative Melissa Bailey said.

"Crews also surveyed the surrounding area for any signs of a natural gas leak,'' Bailey said in a mid-morning statement today.

"As of this time, crews have not detected any leak on SoCalGas' natural gas equipment in the street or at the home. The cause of the explosion has not been determined,'' Bailey said. "As a precaution, natural gas service has been temporarily shut off at several homes impacted by the explosion.''

Following the blast, wreckage was also scattered in the yard and on the roof of an adjacent home and a piece was even lodged high in a nearby tree.

Five homes sustained damage, and police reported that building inspectors red-tagged three homes, meaning they were deemed unsafe to enter.

Police investigated if illegal drug production was involved, but ultimately ruled out that possibility.