Stake for snow fence triggers blast

Lou Raguse
Posted by: Eli George

ALFRED, N.Y. (WIVB) - Investigators have found the cause of an explosion that destroyed part of an apartment building in Alfred.

Officials say a natural gas leak outside the Rose Apartments triggered the blast Sunday night

. Apparently, someone installing a snow fence around the building drove a stake through a gas line that was buried 20 inches underground about 20 feet from the building near the gas meter.

PHOTO GALLERY | See images of the damage the explosion caused here

National Fuels says the leaking gas collected underground then traveled into a utility room in the apartment building. Something sparked there, triggering the blast. Read more at WIVB