WALKERVILLE (AP) -- A gas explosion heavily damaged one house Wednesday and rocked the foundatins of nearby houses, firefighters and residents said.
No one was seriously injured,
The blast occurred in Patricia James' house while she sat at her kitchen table. She suffered a concussion and was admitted for an overnight stay at a Butte hospital.
Neighbor Ed Decker, whose windows were shattered, said he watched men replacing a water main about 20 yards from the James' house when the explosion occurred.
``It took them right off their feet and flattened them, just like in the movies,'' Decker said. ``My knees are still shaking.''
An investigation indicated a damaged line leaked gas into the house's basement and that a pilot light ignited the gas, said Walkerville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Bolton. The chief said the line was apparently damaged when the construction crew replacing the water main hit the gas line with a backhoe.
Dale Malyevac, project engineer who is working with Butte-Silver Bow County on the water main replacement, said more investigation is needed before blame can be placed.
``I can't agree with or deny what the fire chief has found,'' he said, adding that three insurance companies will be investigating further.
Walkerville is a connected community west of Butte.
Information from: The Montana Standard
