Cracked copper pipe cause of house explosion
by Michelle Minnoch

The Ontario Fire Marshall's Office has confirmed foul play was not part of a gas explosion which demolished a house and shook an Innisfil neighbourhood.

Residents living in the area of Big Bay Point and Alberta Avenue were shaken to their core on Tuesday as a massive explosion destroyed an area home.

The blast, which occurred around 4pm last Tuesday, was witnessed by residents who reported seeing an immense fireball, and by those whom own residences shook.

The cause of the blast has been linked to a cracked and leaking copper propane line which supplied the gas to the inside furnace from an exterior propane tank.

"The windows in the restaurant rattled," said Councillor Dan Davidson, whose restaurant is located just down the street. He said the whole restaurant shook. Davidson said he rushed to the scene before the fire trucks arrived and was concerned about possible causalities. There has been no reports of casualties. Some residents in the area reported smelling gas an hour or so before the explosion, but no-one reported the smell.

Innisfil firefighters arrived on the scene while an investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office was on-route - the investigators are called to a scene when there may be a gas related explosion or if there is a fire related death.

The $2 million 4500 square foot home is owned by former Olympian Lorne Leibel, 53. Leibel was part of the 1976 Sailing Team in the Montreal Summer Olympics, and later became the World Powerboat Champion. Leibel is now a developer who lives in Toronto.

(photos submitted by Jennifer and Jeff Howard)