A home in north suburban Woodstock was destroyed in an apparent natural gas explosion Monday afternoon, prompting authorities to urge neighbors to shelter in place (Kris Habermehl/CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics were on the scene of a major gas leak on Tryon Street when a house exploded across the street from St. Mary Catholic Church near the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Tryon Street. The explosion occurred about 2:37 p.m. Monday, October 9, 2023.
Tryon Street between Washington Street and W. Judd Street had been closed for a natural gas leak in the roadway.
St. Mary Catholic Church was ordered evacuated at least by 1:24 p.m. and surrounding homes have been advised to shelter in place until Nicor can mitigate the leak.
Woodstock Battalion Chief 4 at about 2:37 p.m. reported an explosion and a structural collapse of home across the street from St. Mary Catholic Church. There are multiple other building and homes damaged.
Reports of injuries were not initially available.
There was a report of a dog injured that was transported from the scene to a veterinary office.
Please avoid the area of Washington st to Throop st and Washington St to Wicker St in Woodstock for the next several hours due to a critical incident.
— McHenry County Sheriff’s Office
IMAGES from ABC and CBS …
Woodstock fire: House in flames after possible explosion reported https://t.co/5d8fQm1FHC
— ChicagoMediaX (@chicagomediaX) October 9, 2023
One home has been obliterated & a second house is on fire in Woodstock after a powerful explosion at Lincoln Avenue & Tryon Street. No word on injuries yet. Follow developments at https://t.co/vhbRxCcLib pic.twitter.com/4vBJTbm3CA
— Kris Habermehl (@KrisHabermehl) October 9, 2023
Firefighters walk amongst rubble as they work at the scene of a house explosion in Woodstock. A NICOR service truck sits at the curb in front of the ruined home. Companies still have a working fire in the adjacent house on Lincoln Ave. at Tryon St. More at https://t.co/vhbRxCcLib pic.twitter.com/RIFEjFdJ7W
— Kris Habermehl (@KrisHabermehl) October 9, 2023
Kris Habermehl/CBS Chicago report “one home has been obliterated and a second house is on fire in Woodstock after a powerful explosion at Lincoln Avenue & Tryon Street.”
Firefighters were assigned to secure the perimeter, take and inventory of firefighter members (PAR), and check for injuries and hazards in the neighborhood.
Before the explosion, multiple 9-1-1 callers reported the odor of natural gas, and a caller reported the smell of natural gas as far away as the Benton Street Tap about 2:31 p.m. on Benton Street north of Judd Street — just before the explosion occurred. Benton Street Tap is located about 1,000 feet southeast of the gas explosion scene.
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According to the NWS Office at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport …
3:35 PM Winds NW 09 MPH G 20
3:15 PM Winds NW 12 MPH G 20
2:55 PM Winds NW 12 MPH G 24
2:35 PM Winds NW 16 MPH G 24
2:15 PM Winds NW 15 MPH G 24
1:55 PM Winds NW 16 MPH G 29
Wind gusts picked up from the Northwest about 11:15 a.m.
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In an aerial view from a CBS Chicago news helicopter, a NICOR utility pickup truck is visible parked in front of a destroyed building.
Neighbors in the area report ash falling, and an odor of natural gas still in the air. Several people were calling 9-1-1 to report an odor that they wanted investigated. The Woodstock Public Library is closed for the day.
Chopper7 over the scene of a house explosion and fire involving a second house in northwest suburban Woodstock (ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
A MABAS Division 5 Box Alarm #5-40 was activated to a second alarm immediately after explosion — about 2:41 p.m..
A MABAS Division 5 Box Alarm #5-40 was elevated to a third alarm at about 3:14 p.m.
A MABAS Division 5 Box Alarm #5-40 was elevated to a fourth alarm at about 3:35 p.m.
Firefighters from as far as Buffalo Grove and Boone County were due to the disaster scene on the MABAS 3rd Alarm activated at 3:35 p.m.