CENTERVILLE, Iowa --
The investigating into a fire and explosion at a Centerville home continues on Monday. The blast sent six people to hospitals.
A home on the 1200 block of Drake Avenue caught fire at 8:53 a.m. Sunday and then exploded an hour later with firefighters inside.
Jeannie Cruz lives alone in the home, but was out for her daily walk when the fire started.
Alliant Energy told Cruz's son, who owns the home, that a squirrel on top of an electric pole caused a switch to fail. That ruptured a gas line and most likely started the fire.
Six firefighters were injured.
Firefighter Nick Hindley was treated and released.
Firefighters Phil Hudson and Richard Hayes were transferred to the University of Iowa Hopitals and later released.
Firefighters Vern Milburn, Jeremy Hudson and Tony Caraccio were taking to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Caraccio has been released, but Milburn and Hudson remain in the hospital.
The fire marshal will inspect the home Monday to determine the official cause of the fire.
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