Kitchener to inspect 800 homes in house explosion neighbourhood

The aftermath of a house explosion on Activa Avenue in Kitchener, Ont., is seen on Monday, Jan. 27, 2013. (Kyle Bowden / CTV Kitchener)

Neighbours of a Kitchener home that exploded will be offered free inspections of their gas lines.

A home on the corner of Activa Avenue and Isaiah Drive in the Williamsburg neighbourhood suddenly exploded in January.

Four people were in the home at the time. All four survived, but one suffered major injuries including a broken pelvis.

More than three months later, investigators aren’t any closer to determining what caused the fire.

Gas-related causes have been ruled out, but the continued uncertainty has led neighbours to remain afraid.

“We don’t know what happened, the community is still nervous,” says neighbour Shazia Fatima.

Fire officials say they may never be able to pinpoint exactly what caused the blast, and the free inspections are simply a way to reassure residents.

“There’s been a lot of concerns by residents out there. They faced a traumatic event … and this is to give them peace of mind that their homes are safe inside,” says Wally Malcolm of Kitchener Utilities.

But one neighbour says the inspections themselves give her more cause for concern.

“If they are now saying they are going to check inside all the houses, that’s very worrying,” says Val Butler.

“We had until now felt it was something directly at that house.”

Officials with Kitchener Utilities say they’ll spend $35,000 to search each home – mostly on Saturdays, when people are around – for methane or natural gas leaks.

The checks will begin May 25 and last for about four weeks.