Gas leak linked to cabin explosion

by Tim Bondy

Mountain Home News

The state fire marshal determined that a gas leak was the likely cause of an explosion that flattened a weekend cabin in Pine on Feb. 14.

According to Elmore County Detective Greg Genz, the fire marshal suspects that a liquefied petroleum gas leaked underneath the cabin with an ignition source inside the home igniting the fuel.

No one was in the cabin on North Pine Meadow Circle at the time of the incident, and there were no reported injuries from the explosion, which happened at 12:04 p.m. that afternoon. The blast itself left a debris field approximately 300 feet in diameter.

The only portion of the structure still standing after the explosion was the recreation vehicle carport rooftop containing some snow machines and four-wheeler ATVs, Genz said.

The fire marshal indicated there didn't appear to be anything suspicious about the gas leak or the explosion. Genz added that it was possible officials will never know exactly what happened due to the extent of the damage.

The sheriffs office and state fire marshal concluded their investigation last week and turned over their information to the family's insurance company.

Genz recommended that residents in the Pine-Featherville area should consider using igniter-type systems instead of pilot lights in their cabin appliances because they are much safer.