Cause of house blast still unknown

Jan. 14--Investigators are still searching for the cause of an explosion that sent two people to the hospital and destroyed a house on South George Washington Boulevard on Thursday morning, but the blast appears to be related to a gas leak.

The owner of the house, John Clark, is being treated for second- and third-degree burns in the burn unit at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, and a second person was reported to be his girlfriend. Her condition was not available at this time.

Officials with the Yuba City Fire Department said a gas leak of some sort appears to be the cause, but it is still under investigation. Sutter County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Dan Buttler said the explosion was not caused by a drug lab. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. spokesman Paul Moreno said the company is also still working on its investigation. Electricity was restored to 53 customers on Thursday afternoon.

"We have bottled gas for the other houses in the area while we investigate the gas main," Moreno said.

A third-party engineering firm is assisting in the investigation, Moreno said.

The Yuba City Fire Department expected to hand the site over to the insurance company Friday afternoon, Yuba City fire inspector Jesse Frias said. The fire department will continue to work with the insurance company next week.

CONTACT reporter Kirk Barron at 749-4796.

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