Ohio home explodes from gas leak

[October 27, 2008]  MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) -- A gas leak ignited an explosion that destroyed a northern Ohio home while its owner was out running errands.

Mansfield Fire Capt. George Rippey says the home exploded Saturday around 4 p.m. The force of the blast knocked out the windows and doors of a neighboring home and threw debris across the street.

No one was injured in the explosion. Rippey says the home's occupant, Keith Phillips, was out buying an electric heater for the home when the explosion occurred. Phillips told authorities that his furnace had been acting up Friday night, and that he had shut off gas to it.

Authorities are investigating how the leak started and what caused the gas to ignite.

[Associated Press]

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