1 Dies, 34 Hurt as Blast Levels Buildings

An explosion and fire leveled three buildings, including a five-unit apartment house Saturday, killing one woman, injuring 34 others and causing $2 million in damage, a fire official said.

The six-alarm fire caused the “total collapse” of three buildings and damaged a dozen others, according to Deputy State Fire Marshal Bob Thomas. A tenant from one of the buildings, Susan Monsoon, 43, was found dead under tons of rubble 12 hours after the 9 a.m. explosion.

Rescue dogs helped search for Monsoon, whose husband said she was trapped in the kitchen of their first-floor apartment when the three-story building collapsed on them.

Fire officials believe the explosion occurred at a sandwich shop. The explosion leveled the shop, a building housing two businesses and two apartments and a five-unit apartment building.

Buildings across the street had windows blown out, and some were lifted off their foundations by the force, Thomas said.

Among the buildings damaged was a nearby nursing home where 12 residents were evacuated, he said.

Thomas said 24 civilians and 10 firefighters were taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, lacerations and abrasions.