Fourplex explosion blamed on copper-piping thieves

A vacant north Minneapolis fourplex exploded into ruins on Sunday morning after the theft of copper pipes led to a natural gas leak.

By CHAO XIONG, Star Tribune

Last update: September 21, 2008 - 11:56 PM

A vacant north Minneapolis fourplex exploded into ruins on Sunday morning after the theft of copper pipes led to a natural gas leak.

CenterPoint Energy spokeswoman Becca Virden said a company supervisor at the scene of the explosion, 2407 Golden Valley Road, determined the cause in concert with investigators from the Minneapolis Fire Department.

The building had been vacant and boarded for about a year, said Minneapolis fire investigator Denise Bryn. No injuries were reported.

Rene Hatchett, who lives in a duplex next door, said she awoke about 8 a.m. to the strong smell of gas. Her downstairs neighbor, Charmaine Brown, said she tried to call Minneapolis 311, a source for city information, services and complaints, from a nearby pay phone but could not get through because she didn't have 50 cents for the call.

Brown said she then dialed the operator in hopes she could be connected to help, but was told to call 311. Brown said she didn't have the money and left.

Hatchett was cooking when the house exploded about 10:30 a.m., shattering her windows.

The explosion threw Brown several feet and rained debris into her home. She grabbed her son and told her daughter to get out of the house. The force of the explosion was felt about a mile away, Bryn said.

Both families were relocated by the American Red Cross.

Hatchett said her teenage daughter heard people moving around the vacant house about 2 a.m. Sunday.

CenterPoint wasn't notified of the leak until the house had exploded and someone had called 911, Virden said.

CenterPoint shuts off gas to vacant houses at the homeowner's request, she said. The fourplex that exploded was put on the market about two months ago. The owners had regularly checked on the property, neighbors said.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Jesse Garcia said homeowners are responsible for calling to have gas shut off if their houses will be vacant. "Copper thieves will break into homes with no regard," he said.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391

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