Uncapped gas valve turned on, causing Syracuse house explosion that left 12 injured

A free-flowing natural gas leak in the basement is the reason a house on Carbon Street collapsed on two families Tuesday, according to Syracuse Fire Chief Michael Monds.

The morning after the collapse, Syracuse Fire Department investigators, along with the Syracuse Police Department, National Grid, New York State Public Service Commission, and an agent from the local Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, partnered to begin a joint investigation to determine the possible cause of the incident.

No issues were found with the natural gas line running from the curb box on the street to the home's interior gas meter. Investigators then began to focus their investigation inside the collapsed home.

It was found that the gas meter had two natural gas pipelines: one for the furnace and hot water tank and one where a clothes dryer should have been.

"This specific gas pipe had a shut-off valve on it, and it was found that that shut-off valve was in the fully open position," Monds said. "The cause and origin of the explosion has been determined to be a free-flowing natural gas leak from that gas pipe in the area of the basement where a dryer should have been located."

At the time of the explosion, 205 Carbon Street had no open housing code or maintenance code violations on the structure or any open work permits. After discussing the investigation findings with the Onondaga County Attorney District Attorney's Office and the Syracuse Police Department, no criminal charges will be pursued relevant to this case at this time.

As of Friday evening, Upstate University Hospital reports that five of the 12 victims are still in critical condition and seven have been discharged. Those in critical condition include the 2-year-old and 8-month-old of the visiting family and the father, mother and 3-year-old of the family who lived at 205 Carbon Street.