Natural Gas Leak Triggers House Explosion in Taunton, Injuring Mother and Child

Explosion Reported on Plain Street in Taunton

A house on Plain Street in Taunton, Massachusetts exploded around 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning, seriously injuring a mother and her young child and damaging neighboring homes.

Firefighters in Taunton stated that a natural gas leak caused the explosion. The blast destroyed the home and damaged two houses located on either side. The Taunton Fire Department reported that no foul play is suspected in connection with the incident.

Victims Suffer Life-Threatening Burns

Inside the home at the time of the explosion were 25-year-old Lucitha Blanc and her two-year-old daughter, Jenelle. Both were able to escape the house but sustained what police described as life-threatening burns. A neighbor, Jacinda Jones, identified Blanc as her friend and confirmed that Blanc and her daughter had been in the exploded home.

Jones said that she, her son, and her partner were in their own living room next door when they heard the explosion, and their living room window burst open with glass flying. Jones and her family left their house, ran to their car, and drove away from the scene.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

Body camera video from the first Taunton police officer on the scene shows the officer assisting residents in the neighboring home to evacuate through waist-deep snow. The officer and others on the scene discovered that all the fire hydrants on the street were buried under snow from a storm that occurred on Monday.

Neighbors used shovels to search for and uncover fire hydrants while officers went door to door instructing residents in neighboring homes to leave their houses. The fire department reported that the explosion and ensuing fire caused catastrophic damage to the affected property.

Investigation and Damage Assessment

The Taunton Fire Department stated on Thursday that the blast resulted from a natural gas leak. Due to the level of destruction from the explosion and subsequent fire, officials said the precise location of the leak and the cause of ignition remain under investigation.

Eversource crews were present at the site on Thursday, assessing the property and digging through the rubble. According to Jones, everything inside her home next door was ruined. She said her family briefly returned to the property to retrieve clothing and shoes but were able to recover very little.

Community Support for Affected Families

The community has responded with donations and online fundraisers for the families affected by the Plain Street explosion. Jones said these efforts are providing support as the impacted residents deal with the extensive damage and loss resulting from the incident.