Power Line Suspected in Home Explosion

An explosion that literally raised the roof off an Oxnard house Tuesday afternoon may have been caused by a power line that fell on the structure earlier in the day, Oxnard fire officials said.

Firefighters were first called to 101 Balsam St. about 11 a.m. when a Southern California Edison high-voltage line fell on the side of the house, said Battalion Chief Terry McAnally of the Oxnard Fire Department. Edison workers cleared the hazard in about 45 minutes, McAnally said.

At 2:10 p.m., firefighters were called back to the address when an explosion ripped through the house, he said.

“Edison guys working there said the roof raised up and came back down,” McAnally said. “Smoke was coming out of the attic windows and there was a fire.”

Officials believe that the power line that fell on the house may have caused a gas leak, which led to the explosion, McAnally said.

“It got the right combination of air and gas and an ignition source and it just blew,” he said.

Firefighters put out the fire and searched for victims. Although between six and 10 people lived in the house and an adjoining guest home, no one was injured, McAnally said.

“We called the Red Cross, the gas company, fire investigators, and building and safety, because the house is uninhabitable--it will be condemned,” he said.

An investigation into the cause of the fire, which caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, is continuing.