THORNTON - The man killed in a home explosion in Thornton Thursday has been identified as 59-year-old Gary Pine.
The cause of the explosion in the 13000 block of Monroe Drive remains under investigation. Gary Wilmes with the Thornton Fire Department said it will likely take weeks for his team to discover the cause.
Wilmes said one of the challenges investigators face is the nearly three feet of debris piled on top of the basement.
"We think the explosion started in the basement, but we're still investigating. It's possible the cause was natural gas," Wilmes said.
One of the reasons why fire investigators believe natural gas caused the explosion is because of the way the debris settled. Wilmes said debris was scattered more than two blocks away and ended up on the roof of homes.
"Natural gas is lighter than air, so it will rise. You need the right concentration of natural gas, which is about five to fifteen percent, and then you need an ignition source," West Metro Fire Chief, Doug Hutchinson, said.
Hutchinson said simple switches could easily become ignition sources such as: light switch on, opening a cell phone or turning on a car.
While natural gas isn't visible, it smells like rotten eggs.
Hutchinson said anyone who comes in contact with this scent should leave the structure right away and call 911. He also recommends getting gas appliances checked by the gas company or a contractor at least once a year.
(KUSA-TV © 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
