Glendale Heights probing home explosion

A Glendale Heights man was hospitalized in serious condition late Wednesday after fireworks apparently triggered an explosion in his home, authorities said.

Investigators are continuing to probe what sparked the explosion about 8:30 a.m. on the 400 block of East Altgeld Avenue.

James Ziecina, 56, was injured in the blast and 10 surrounding homes were evacuated.

Deputy Police Chief Tom Bialas said officers found Ziecina lying just inside the home’s front door. He was taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

The first officers on the scene were forced to pull back after they learned a large quantity of fireworks and materials used to make fireworks were inside, Bialas said.

“It’s unclear the type of fireworks that were in the home,” he said. “I am not sure if they are commercial grade fireworks or something else.”

The DuPage County Hazardous Device Team determined the explosion was not related to any type of gas leak. Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI were at the scene.

Bialas said the explosion was contained inside the home and no other homes were damaged.

Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday afternoon.