Blaze That Killed 2 Investigated : Santa Ana Fire Victim in Fair Condition

A Santa Ana woman, severely burned in an explosion and fire that killed two of her children early Monday, was reported in fair condition Tuesday at UCI Medical Center as authorities continued to investigate the incident.

But Jim Montgomery, deputy chief of the Santa Ana Fire Department, said investigators may never determine what caused the tragic explosion shortly after midnight at the Woodfin family’s home.

Marjorie Woodfin, 55, had been admitted to the hospital in serious condition with second- and third-degree burns over half her body after a gas wall heater exploded in her family’s duplex, triggering a “flash fire,” a fire official said.

Killed in the home were Christine Woodfin, 16, and her brother Jay, 29. Two sons, Joseph, 25, and David, 19, escaped the blaze unharmed.

Bob Hird, a spokesman for the Southern California Gas Co., said Tuesday that no leaks in the company’s equipment were found during an inspection of the property’s gas lines a few hours after the tragedy.

“The flex connector (hose), which hooks up piping in the wall to the heater, had been disconnected,” Hird said, “which led to the release of the natural gas into the room. It would have had to be manually disconnected.”

Hird said the gas company has “no record of any service ever there” at the duplex. Jim Hodge, who built the duplex 14 years ago and still owns it, said “it’s been five years” since the heater was serviced. He did not specify who had done the work.

Although investigators have established that the explosion occurred in the heater and was caused by ignited natural gas, they have not determined what caused the heater to burst, Montgomery said.

“I have no comment about the gas company’s information,” Montgomery said. “We have not made an official determination as to whether there was a leak or a hose was disconnected. That is still under investigation. . . . To be honest with you, I don’t know that we’ll ever determine the cause; there were too many possibilities that can’t be ruled out.” On Tuesday, a longtime neighbor of the Woodfins opened an account at Sears Savings Bank in Tustin, hoping for donations to help family members, who lost all of their possessions in the fire. Maria Theresa Longa and other friends, who canvassed the neighborhood and lobbied friends, said those wishing to make donations can send checks payable to the bank on behalf of Marjorie Woodfin, or call (714) 546-1249 for information.