From excavating a tree to inspecting pipes, NTSB and CPS energy crews have concentrated efforts on the home between the two homes that exploded.
SAN ANTONIO — The investigation into the two house explosions has focused resources on the backyard of a home caught in between the sudden Tuesday night chaos.
On Friday, crews with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and CPS Energy dug through a portion of the backyard using heavy equipment and shovels, extracting what appeared to be tree limbs and pipes.
“Perhaps there are some lines that are nearby that they want to get a better look at,” said Clay Saliba, general manager of George Plumbing Company. “Can a tree roots cause damage to piping? Sure, we see it all the time, water drain, sewer pipes, gas pipes sometimes, but to me it doesn’t explain the explosion.”
Neighbors told KENS 5 they were informed the roots of the tree interfered with the pipeline and is the origin of the gas leak, although the NTSB has yet to confirm such details. Authorities have pointed to a possible buildup of natural gas as the cause.
On Tuesday, two house explosions along Preston Hollow Drive rattled the north-side neighborhood, resulting in five people being transported to the hospital.
Saliba said for gas to explode there needs to be some level of containment for the buildup to take place. As for the ignition source, that’s officially unknown as the investigation is ongoing.
“Natural gas is lighter than air and so it would just immediately go up and into the atmosphere, I don’t see how it would be caught somewhere in the back of the home,” Saliba said.
The explosions have not only sparked concern among residents in the impacted neighborhood, but also with community members throughout San Antonio. Saliba said George Plumbing has been inundated with calls from customers concerned about their own gas lines. But his team has been ready to respond.
“We are proactively going over there to test and make sure everything is good and tight and there aren’t any existing leaks,” Saliba said. “If you smell gas, immediately turn off everything. Don’t use anything, open the windows and evacuate the home. I would call CPS (Energy) immediately.”
According to the NTSB, a preliminary report on the investigation is expected to be released in a month.