Two injured after explosion in basement of Elgin home

Two people were injured after an explosion in the basement of an Elgin home Wednesday afternoon.

The Elgin Fire Department responded to the 500 Block of West Chicago Street at about 4:30 p.m. on June 3 and found two walls of the home partially blown out. Firefighters discovered smoke and the smell of natural gas in the basement, but no fire.

Five residents were inside the house at the time of the explosion. All were able to evacuate before the fire department arrived, and two were transported to hospitals. No firefighters were injured.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated by the EFD Fire Investigation Team in conjunction with Nicor. Work was being completed in the basement at the time of the explosion.

The house suffered significant structural damage and was declared uninhabitable. Damage is estimated at $150,000.