SPRUCE GROVE- A house that was under construction in Spruce Grove has been destroyed, after it exploded into flames Saturday night.
Fire crews were called to a duplex in Greenbury Crescent around 9:00p.m. after receiving calls of an explosion.
One man who lives in the area says he was in his garage shortly before 9:00 when he heard and felt the explosion.
"I felt the ground shake and my garage door shook and I knew something happened, but I didn't know what it was. I walked outside and I saw flames shooting up and the house behind here just caught on fire," explained Tony Paul.
RCMP say two sub-contractors had been in the home, tiling the kitchen during the day Saturday, and say they smelled a gas-like substance. The men were still working in the home when the basement exploded, according to officers. They were able to escape without injuries.
Firefighters say the explosion blew the front door right off the home. The fire then completely engulfed the duplex. Crews were not able to save the structure. One side of the duplex suffered more damage than the other, and crews say the building will have to be demolished and re-built.
"It appears the explosion was on one side of the duplex, which then of course affected both sides of the duplex, but it was only the one structure that was involved," said Spruce Grove Fire Chief Robert Kosterman.
Most of the homes in the area were under construction and vacant at the time of the explosion. However, homes in a one block radius were evacuated as a precaution.
One of the neighbouring lots was empty, and crews say the home on the other side of the destroyed home did not suffer any damage.
Some residents who are building homes in the crescent arrived on scene Saturday night, concerned about their own builds.
"I just wanted to come and make sure that no one was hurt and that everything was under control and the house I am building is A-OK," explained Erin Stevenson who is building a home just down the street.
Crews remained on scene overnight and well into Sunday afternoon to monitor the structure.
RCMP say they believe the explosion came from the basement however, an investigation is still underway to determine the exact cause. Kosterman says there are a number of factors to consider in the investigation.
"Natural gas is the one that comes to everybody's mind first and foremost, but there is a whole gambit of things that it could be and the investigation is going to be going on throughout the day today and probably tomorrow," said Kosterman.
Investigators say the explosion does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
With files from Shannon Greer.
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