Fire official: House explosion 'suspicious'

PONTOON BEACH -- A southwestern Illinois fire chief says the explosion that destroyed a Madison County home last week is being termed suspicious.

Long Lake Fire Chief Dan Kreher isn't saying why firefighters believe last Friday's blast in Pontoon Beach is anything other than natural.

The property was at the center of a long-standing and complicated series of disputes in the Madison County courts. Those cases including a now-settled foreclosure involving one of the current occupants.

No one was home at the time of the explosion, which happened at about 6:30 a.m. There were no serious injuries.

The explosion is being investigated by Illinois' state fire marshal's office.