Neighbor Says Gas Explosion That Leveled Home In Wallkill Felt Like 'Earthquake'
WALLKILL, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An early-morning gas explosion completely leveled a home in Orange County.
Neighbors said they woke up to the sound of a huge explosion in Wallkill around 6 a.m. Monday.
"I heard a huge boom," neighbor Melissa Smith told CBS2's Scott Rapoport. "It felt like an earthquake, to be honest."
When firefighters arrived on the scene, they said the single-family bungalow on Meadow Lake Drive looked like something out of a war zone, Rapoport reported.
Initial reports indicated the people who lived at the home might still be inside.
"The biggest fear was that there were people trapped and may not be alive," Circleville Fire Chief Walter Szulwach said.
He says they immediately began the nerve-wracking process of searching for victims.
To their relief, they confirmed the two men -- Will Rheule and another man -- who lived in the house were not there at the time. One of the men was with his girlfriend at the time; the other resident was at work, Rapoport reported. Neither one wanted to be interviewed.
"Thank God we found out there was no one trapped and no injuries," Szulwach said.
Firefighters said a propane gas leak from a tank on the property filled the house with gas, causing the explosion. It is unknown what caused the leak.
Almost all of the damage was contained just to the home, but neighbors said the incident has left them rattled.
"It is scary because I have to live here," said neighbor Tina Benjamin. "I hope this doesn't happen to any other bungalows."
Rheule, and his roommate are moving into another nearby bungalow.
The gas and electricity have been turned off in the home as a precaution as the investigation gets underway.
The manager of the complex said the smelled prepare on Sunday, and shut off the valve to the tank. She called the propane company about it and said they were supposed to come out to have a look at it.
