Arsonist Blamed for Housing Unit Blasts
Inspectors said an arsonist set off natural gas explosions that destroyed two vacant public housing units in West Fresno Friday, four days after a similar blast blew up another unit in the same project.
No injuries were reported, but nearby residents said they were shaken out of bed by the blasts--one at 12:45 a.m. in a South Delno Avenue duplex and the other at 2:15 a.m. about a block away in a single-family residence on West Atchison Court.
When the second unit blew up, a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crew was only 75 feet away, heading there to turn off the gas, fire inspector John Salveson said.
Friday’s explosions followed a natural gas blast on Monday that destroyed a housing unit on Atchison Court next door to Friday’s second blast.
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