CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Division of Fire responded to a chaotic scene Friday afternoon on the city's East Side after a home exploded and the houses on either side of it caught fire.
CDF Spokesperson Lt. Mike Norman held a news conference to give an update on what happened.
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According to Norman, crews were notified of the explosion shortly after 12 p.m. It happened in the 5900 block of Cable Avenue.
When firefighters arrived, they found that one home had exploded, and the homes on either side were on fire, Norman said.
Around 45 battled flames for about an hour and a half to bring the situation under control.
"On a scale of one to a big explosion, this was a pretty big explosion," Norman said.
No injuries were reported; the family of four that lived at the house that exploded wasn't home when it happened.
Norman said it appears the explosion was caused by a gas leak, based on the damage, and neighbors whom firefighters spoke to said they smelled gas earlier.
Additionally, crews worked to extinguish a vehicle that had caught fire in the driveway of one of the homes. Heavy smoke from the burning car spread through the neighborhood, hindering visibility.
Members of the Cleveland Building and House Department will determine whether the homes on either side of the house that exploded are still habitable or will be considered total losses.
