Gas leak blast destroys Seattle house, two injured (Reuters)

SEATTLE (Reuters) ? A fiery explosion from a natural gas leak leveled a house in Seattle early on Monday, seriously injuring two people and shattering windows in the surrounding neighborhood, authorities said.

The thunderous 6 a.m. blast prompted the evacuation of about a dozen nearby homes and a child day-care center, which remained cordoned off as of 2 p.m. as utility inspectors and fire officials sought to ensure there was no further danger.

Two residents, a man and woman in their 50s, were hospitalized with burns they suffered in the explosion and fire that destroyed their home, a utility spokesman told Reuters. He characterized the woman's injuries as life-threatening.

Investigators reported that the man told authorities after the blast that he had smelled gas on Sunday but did not report it, said Roger Thompson, a spokesman for Puget Sound Energy.

"We strongly encourage that any time someone smells natural gas, leave the building immediately -- don't switch anything on or off," Thompson said. "Don't even use a phone inside the home to call. Call from a neighbor's home or business."

The fire department confirmed there was a natural gas leak inside the northern Seattle home, and it appeared that an electrical spark, perhaps from a light switch, ignited the gas, Thompson said.

While the source of the leak remained undetermined, Thompson said dangerous levels of gas can escape from a faulty fitting on a gas pipeline or appliance, such as a furnace, hot water heater, stove or gas clothes dryer.

(Reporting by Nicole Neroulias; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110926/us_nm/us_house_explosion_seattle

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