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Dec. 07--HALTOM CITY -- A family dog thought to have been killed in a Tuesday night house explosion was found alive Wednesday morning, the homeowner said.
Diva was discovered nestled behind a freezer where she apparently went to escape when the house exploded and caught fire.
"When we ran out and the flames were out, I stood by the door and called for her, but she didn't answer," said homeowner Jaime Diaz, who along his wife, grandson and son-in-law ran out of the house as sheetrock and other debris fell on them. "I just thought she had been killed."
But Diaz's adult son found Diva Wednesday morning as he looked through the charred debris.
"She was shaking, but she looked ok," Diaz said. "My daughter took her straight to the vet."
The explosion apparently caused by a gas leak rocked the neighborhood Tuesday night, setting Diaz's house on fire.
Initially, Diaz's wife, Maria, was believed to have injured her wrist when she fell running out of the house, but she was released from a hospital shortly after the incident.
Jaime Diaz said his and his grandson's hair were singed a bit, but there were no other injuries.
Neighboring houses in the 4900 block of Orien Street were evacuated, Fire Chief Steve Ross said.
Fire Marshal Fred Napp said the explosion blew the front door of a wooden, one-story house almost to the street. One wall of the house blew out and that side of the house was destroyed by fire. The rest of the house was extensively damaged.
The fire call was received shortly before 7 p.m., Ross said.
Firefighters found that the explosion had sheared off the gas meter at ground level at the home.
Jaime Diaz said he sensed a hint of gas just before the house exploded.
"We thank God we all made it out," the homeowner said. Neighbors said they saw flames shoot into the sky.
(Staff writer Marty Sabota contributed to this report.
Mitch Mitchell, 817-390-7752; Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763; Twitter: @stcrime
