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SPRINGVILLE — Investigators believe a broken gas line tied to construction led to an explosion and a large fire at an apartment complex in Utah County on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident didn't result in any reported injuries but did displace several residents, said Springville Police Lt. Warren Foster.
"As far as we are aware of, everybody has been accounted for, which is, by all means, the very best outcome under the circumstances that we have," he said. "That's really what it boils out to. Everybody's safe."
Emergency crews responded to a report of an explosion at an apartment complex in the area of 500 South and Main Street shortly after 12:15 p.m., according to Foster. A photo from the scene posted by Springville City showed large flames shooting from the building.
The call elicited a major emergency response from Springville and three neighboring cities.
"All (Springville) fire and police were responding to this location because we know this is an apartment complex with multiple people as well as a trailer park to the west of it," Foster said, as firefighters worked to put out the fire at the apartment complex behind him.
The section of the apartment complex had 12 units. Foster said two of the units were "a complete loss" and some of the other 10 were damaged as a result of the explosion and fire. Nobody was inside the two most impacted apartments at the time of the explosion.
While the complex was evacuated, Foster said it appears some of the residents will be allowed back into their apartments Tuesday night. Springville officials said the Red Cross was set up at a church building located at 800 S. 400 East for those displaced.
A spokesperson for the Red Cross in Utah said the fire impacted "multiple families" and that Red Cross volunteers were helping provide "emergency aid, including financial assistance" for those affected. They said anyone affected by the fire and in need of assistance should call 1-800-733-2767.
Investigators confirmed that it was an explosion that caused the fire. Foster said it is believed to be tied to work that was being done on a gas line somewhere nearby at the time of the explosion.
"When they turned the gas line on and starting lighting things, that's when the explosion occurred," he said. "I know they were trying to do some improvements to this section of town and these apartments, so I don't know what the reason why they were working on the gas line. But I know it was something that was in process."
Dominion Energy crews were able to shut the gas line valve shortly after the explosion. The explosion and fire remain under investigation.
The fire closed Main Street from 400 South to 800 South for several hours but it has since reopened.
