Deadly Indianapolis Blast, any thoughts on what may have caused it?

[Ferret_Herder]

From what I’m reading, there was a single explosion and the sheer force obliterated two houses.

New report: Ex-husband of the woman whose house was involved said their daughter texted him a week and a half ago that the furnace was out. Everyone was out of the house that exploded, including their cat being at a boarder, so WAG - furnace was not fixed, they were staying elsewhere in the meantime, and gas leaked, built up, and went boom.

[Miller]

@April_R

why would a second home explode as well?

Peer pressure?

[Bullitt]

I’m actually in Indianapolis this week for work. Took the day today to take in some sights, and after that I tried to drive into that neighborhood but it’s completely blocked off. Even with my story of visiting a friend at the next street over, even with a phony address, they wouldn’t let me in.

The damage from that explosion is incredible.

In 1989, after the Loma Prieta earthquake when I lived in San Francisco, I got into the Marina District a few days after the quake. I told the cops I was a freelance photographer with the college newspaper - almost but not quite true. I got some cool pictures of the damage. This was after all the searches for people were completed.

[Son_of_a_Rich]

@April_R

That was in Bourne too, after the spy on spy fight scene. He set it off with a magazine in a toaster

It was also in the hilarious (at least to me), x rated, definitely NSFW graphic novel “Squeak the Mouse”.Pages 40 & 41.

[Kobalt]

[QUOTE]
A drone fired Hellfire missile? [/QUOTE

It was caused by a drone crashing into the house, eighty people were killed and twenty homes were destroyed. At least that’s what a friend told me tonight.

Yes, she’s a massive conspiracy theorist.

[Broomstick]

Here’s an article from an Indianapolis source. An exploding furnace is one explanation but not proven. The authorities say natural gas is somehow involved but won’t get more specific than that.

[Machine_Elf]

@April_R

If gas is so dangerous, why don’t more places use electric heat? We have a gas heater in our home and it freaks me out every time it comes on with the auto pilot light. There is blue hot flames encased in a giant metal drum inside a wooden utility closet. It does not seem safe at all.

and P.S. I know electricity can cause plenty of fires, but electrical fires don’t generally cause explosions.

Gas isn’t that dangerous; these sorts of explosions don’t happen all that often.

for heating things, electricity is far more expensive than gas.

[April_R]

@Machine_Elf

Gas isn’t that dangerous; these sorts of explosions don’t happen all that often.

for heating things, electricity is far more expensive than gas.

I always thought gas was more expensive

[carnivorousplant]

@April_R

I always thought gas was more expensive

Propane, a byproduct of gasoline distillation, is.

[lieu]

@Kobalt

It was caused by a drone crashing into the house, eighty people were killed and twenty homes were destroyed.

80 / 20 = 4 persons per household.

Ah, a nuclear family.

[chappachula]

@lieu

Ah, a nuclear family.

A nuclear blast!!!
so that’s the real story!!!

Now I can tell all my friends. Hey I know it’s true, 'cause I read it on the internet!!!

Let’s all spread the word!
But don’t forget…tell 'em that it must be because Osama Bin Laden is stll alive* and planning more attacks.

(*just like Elvis. oh…and JFK.)

(okay, folks, I’m sorry for being obnoxious. Obviously, it’s a tragedy for everybody involved. But for the rest of us, it’s fun to speculate about. Plus, I 've never started a conspiracy theory before, and this might be my only opportunity. )

[Lord_Feldon]

Now they’re calling it a homicide.

[Count_Blucher]

@jasg

Or a small bit of antimatter

…or even David Spade stamping his feet & shouting, “The Devil told you that! The Devil told you that!”

[April_R]

@Son_of_a_Rich

It was also in the hilarious (at least to me), x rated, definitely NSFW graphic novel “Squeak the Mouse”.Pages 40 & 41.

OMG, what the hell did I just read? Why did I just read? OMG, I can never unsee.
Seriously NSFW:(

[April_R]

@Lord_Feldon

Now they’re calling it a homicide.

Wow, well that is a twist. An intentional explosion.

However, I think the reward money is a bit low-ball considering 2 people died and about 4 million is damage was caused by the blast

Officials also announced two rewards are being offered – one for $1,000 from Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana and $10,000 from ATF – for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the blast.

[Nerdessence]

This entire story makes me sick.

My husband and I live about 2.5 miles away, so we heard and felt the boom, which was like a combination of thunder, a car crash, and a firework. Then we heard the insanity of every siren-bearing vehicle in the area centering on the blast area. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep well that night.

I was still going to bed cautious until the weekend. You just don’t forget that kind of scare easily.

The evidence looks bad for the woman and her boyfriend. I don’t care who did it or why, I just want them caught.

And yes, lots of conspiracy nutters around here. My in-laws were already suggesting “Islamic people” from day one. Now the drone theory is popular, but the meth lab theory was really gaining ground until they said homicide.

To me, it makes sense that criminally-inclined people in debt would hatch a clumsy scheme to get insurance money, never expecting the level of carnage we were left with. I suppose we’ll find out. I hope we do. If it is a random psycho, I don’t want him/her coming to MY neighborhood.

[Spud]

Local news just reported… gas intentionally leaked into house… two people in custody.

[Bullitt]

If they’re the ones who did this, I hope they rot in jail.

[Indyellen]

People have been brought in for questioning, but no one is in custody yet:

Police take 2 people in for questioning

[Bullitt]

Demolitions ordered for 29 homes in Indianapolis neighborhood where house explosion killed 2

INDIANAPOLIS — Demolitions have been ordered for more than two dozen homes in a blast-ravaged Indianapolis neighborhood where a house explosion that killed two people is being investigated as a homicide case, officials said Wednesday.

The 29 homes slated for razing amounts to nearly a quarter of the 125 houses in the subdivision where the Nov. 10 explosion destroyed five homes and damaged dozens more, leaving some on the brink of collapse. No arrests have been made in the blast, which investigators believe was intentionally set and caused by natural gas.

That’s a large proportion of houses in that subdivision. Those unfortunate folks, unable to enjoy their homes during the holidays. And winter.