Investigators looking for clues in Waukegan business explosion

Investigators searched for the cause of a natural gas explosion Friday, a day after it literally raised the roof of a Waukegan strip mall, blew out windows, flung debris and injured eight people.

One woman, who was trapped under debris from the roof collapse, remained hospitalized with back and other injuries. Four of five people taken to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan were released Thursday. Three others with minor injuries were treated at the scene.

The mid-day blast caused extensive damage to a small strip center on the 1900 block of Grand Avenue. Firefighters said Friday the origin was at the rear of the Tuxedo World store, 1916 Grand Ave., not the adjacent hair salon as initially reported.

More Coverage Links Gas explosion levels Waukegan strip mall [02/28/08]

"It definitely was gas-related," Waukegan Deputy Fire Chief Dan Young said. Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras to search the rubble and are nearly certain everyone who was in the buildings got out.

"We have not received reports of anybody missing," Young said.

Gas service was shut off to the north side of the street, and several businesses were closed. Those on the south side were operating.

Given the strength of the blast, time of day and location near the busy intersection of Grand and Lewis avenues, responders and witnesses were amazed injuries were not more serious.

"That gas was coming out so loud, it was just hissing," said Jim Davila, who owns a construction and remodeling business in an attached building east of the explosion site.

"It blew (debris) from one end of the street to the other. It's just amazing, to be honest with you."

Emergency crews also fought a fire as the natural gas leaked. A live power line was "bouncing around" in the alley behind the building, according to Young.

"It was a tremendous blast, and it was tremendous team work by many different departments," he said.

A U.S. Postal Service employee driving a semi saw the aftermath and blocked Grand Avenue with the rig. A retired Waukegan police officer saw the incident in his rearview mirror, stopped and began pulling people out of the rubble. City aldermen helped direct traffic, according to Young.

"People reacted to a bad situation," he said.

Aside from the Waukegan Fire Department, agencies on the scene Friday included the state fire marshal's office, North Shore Gas, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the city's building department and insurance companies.

North Shore Gas spokeswoman Bonnie Johnson said the company had not started its investigation.

"We can't start until we get clearances from the fire and police department, who are still going through the rubble," she said.

The ICC was investigating the piping to determine if there was a leak.

"If there's an accident or an incident, they'll often be on site to determine if the utility was at fault or what led to the accident," ICC spokeswoman Beth Bosch said.

The Grand/Lewis intersection was open to traffic Friday, although a safety perimeter still was up around the blast area.