Excerpts from abc7chicago.com:
Authorities have confirmed that a gasoline leak into the water system caused a major explosion and fire at a condominium complex in south suburban Willowbrook. The incident occurred early Friday morning at the Knolls Condominiums, located on Knoll Wood Road in the 6100 block.
Firefighters from over ten different departments rushed to the scene as the situation unfolded. Tri-State Fire Protection District officials suspect the gasoline originated from a Speedway gas station in nearby Westmont. It has been reported that gasoline is still flowing through the sewer lines from Westmont to a water reclamation plant eight miles to the east.
Emergency crews are working to flush out the water system and open the sewers to release the dangerous fumes. So far, there have been at least ten explosions linked to the leak, though no serious injuries have been reported. A local resident managed to pull a woman out of the building before emergency services arrived. She was taken to Loyola Hospital for treatment and is expected to recover fully.
"The fire department has determined that either gasoline or another flammable substance entered the sanitary system," said Willowbrook Fire Chief Robert Pavelchik. "We're working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and the sanitation district to ensure the area is safe."
Residents in the area are being advised to open windows, turn off all ignition sources, and call 911 if they detect the smell of gasoline. Despite this, fire officials have stated that it's safe to use household appliances.
At the time of the explosion, all electric and gas ignition sources were shut off, and residents were evacuated. However, the issue had already begun earlier in the week. On Thursday night, several residents reported a strong smell of gas in their homes.
"We had to sleep in the living room because our master bedroom bathroom smelled like gas all night," said resident Christopher Simmons. "They couldn’t find the source, and now we’re back in the same situation."
Simmons expressed frustration with the response from authorities the previous night, saying, "They just came, turned off the alarm, and left. I think they could have done more."
The American Red Cross has been contacted to assist those displaced by the incident. Residents will not be allowed to return until investigators confirm the cause of the explosion and fix the issue.
In addition to the explosion, firefighters responded to a separate fire later Friday afternoon on 63rd Street. They successfully rescued a dog from the burning home, and no one was injured.
Thanks, Scott
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