Photo by Malissa Smithey

The Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD) responded to a house explosion around 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24. The incident, which resulted in a fire and one man being transported to the hospital, occurred at an apartment on Fourth Avenue near the river.

The individual was the only person home at the time of the explosion, he suffered serious burns. A woman also resides at the apartment, although she was not present when the incident occurred. The structure received substantial damages from the fire, which was extinguished immediately. Power and gas were shut down throughout the apartment complex.

“The cause of the explosion is still under investigation but it appears to be a natural gas explosion that caused significant damage to the structure,” Mike Page, Public Information Officer for the GJFD, said in a press release.

Afterwards, Xcel Energy was notified to restore gas and electricity service to the rest of the apartment structure. There was a cat found inside the unit and was treated for smoke inhalation, but remained unharmed.

This is the first significant natural gas explosion to occur since the house explosion near Seventh and Orchard Avenue on March 19. 2013, which resulted in three people with severe burns, an evacuation of 187 surrounding homes and complete desolation of the house.