The July 11 gas explosion in Marengo left four homes destroyed, nineteen uninhabitable, and 50 other residences damaged in the 7th Circle neighborhood. (Courtesy: Amanda Underwood)

Investigators tracked the cause for a June 11 explosion in Marengo’s 7th Circle neighborhood to a gas leak, but employees from Northern Illinois Gas (NICOR) were searching for the source, whether a line leak, or an appliance malfunction in one of the homes. A fence cordon blocked access to the destruction area last week, largely for safety purposes, while insurance adjusters determined which homes were lost, uninhabitable, or repairable.

Gas appliances such as hot water tanks, ovens, and pipe fittings were removed from the site to a separate location, by NICOR investigators. Previously, the Marengo Fire Protection District, and the state of Illinois Fire Marshall, had canvassed for their respective data-gathering efforts. Fire district officials were also guiding insurance company representatives through uninhabitable homes, as a precaution.

“The source is still under investigation, where and how it originated, even though we know the devastation was caused by gas,” said Bob Bradbury, the fire protection district’s chief. “NICOR is basically heading the overall investigation, at this point, since it is their infrastructure. Appliances that were in some of the destroyed homes were taken out for testing to see if the cause for the explosion came from a unit.”

On June 11, at approximately 4:50 a.m., the 500 block of 7th Circle suffered a gas explosion that destroyed two homes, set four others afire, left nineteen residences uninhabitable, and damaged more than fifty other homes throughout the area. The early morning catastrophe generated a Level 3 code on the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) calling for assistance from personnel from counties and municipalities, as well as Wisconsin-based emergency response teams.

“There were two people that received burn injuries, and were in a house, next to one that exploded … we’re extremely lucky there weren’t more,” said Bradbury. “They were taken to Woodstock Centegra Hospital, and treated. They’re doing fine, I’m told.”

While NICOR and the Illinois Fire Marshall’s office complete their separate investigations, the sheer scope of the physical damage and displacement of families is staggering. The night of the incident, and the next day, Mayor John Koziol was in the City Hall, with other staff, trying to coordinate relief efforts. The mayor held a town hall session to provide information and answer resident questions and listened to community members.

“What we can do, we will do,” said Koziol. “We worked with the Marengo Area OutReach Enterprises (MORE Center), a non-profit group, to help victims that were impacted by this emergency. They accepted donations, and goods … our community really came together to help each other through fundraisers, any assistance. There were some complaints that people were unable to get their insurance companies to act, and we referred them to that specific state department,” he said. The Illinois Department of Insurance is fielding queries from residents, and responding accordingly to contact insurance providers, he said.

A June 24 fundraiser helped the family of Marengo Community High School wrestling coach Tim Keefer, one of the many affected by the incident who lost their home and possessions. An impromptu wrestling tournament held in Homer Barry gymnasium at the campus brought out more than 200 athletes, from around McHenry County, and represented all age brackets. Donations raised through the event were estimated at $5,500.

“Most of the impacted families have made other arrangements for living spaces, with rentals or staying with friends,” said Bradbury. “There were about 19 families, at the time.”

Koziol noted, “We’re moving forward. This is our community.”

A replacement and total damage assessment cost has yet to be calculated.

— Investigation of Marengo gas explosion continues–