Probe continues in Hanover Park blast

Investigators say they've yet to determine exactly what caused an explosion and fire over the weekend at a Hanover Park strip mall.

Hanover Park Assistant Fire Chief Ken Zaccard said authorities believe the explosion, which occurred around 10:50 p.m. Friday, stemmed from a natural gas leak in the Chi Chi laundromat at 2360 Lake St.

"The circumstances as to how or why the gas began leaking is still being determined," Zaccard said Monday. "Nothing has been ruled out."

He estimated $1 million in property damage alone. An inventory of contents from all five businesses is still being compiled. No one was injured in the two-alarm fire.

The laundromat and Carniceria Cerritos grocery store were destroyed, said Zaccard, while the Parrilla Azteca restaurant sustained smoke damage. Authorities are still evaluating whether the Mande Usted video and game rental business can operate.

The Convenient Food Mart was the only business open at the time of the explosion, and the only business that's since been allowed to reopen. Owner Piyush Patel said three customers and two workers, including his father, were inside when the blast occurred.

"My father thought there was a bomb or that a car drove into a store. They were very scared," said Patel, who was told Sunday night by investigators the cause was still unknown.

Zaccard said investigators are reviewing video of the fire, including footage posted on You Tube by a passer-by.

Firefighters from several departments assisted on the two-alarm fire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called to the scene as soon as the blaze was extinguished, which Zaccard said is standard operating procedure when a fire involves an explosion of unknown origin.