NORTH CREEK, Wash. — A Snohomish County home was destroyed Wednesday in a suspected gas explosion that’s being investigated by federal officials.
Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue crews responded to the explosion near 197th Street Southeast and 25th Drive Southeast in North Creek, which is north of Bothell.
The explosion was heard and felt a “long distance away,” according to the fire department. Windows on nearby homes blew out from the force and the garage door from the home flew across the street into the neighbor's lawn.
Snohomish County Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Peter Mongillo said several 911 calls poured in around 9 a.m. when the explosion happened. He said they believe it was some sort of natural gas explosion and that it happened near the garage.
"Fire investigators are trying to figure out what the cause was, where the leak was, and what the ignition point was," said Mongillo.
KING 5 talked to neighbors who felt the explosion.
"All of a sudden, 'kaboom!' The whole house was shaking like crazy," said John Holmes, who lives down the street and felt the explosion. "My immediate thought was we have been attacked with a bomb,"
Another neighbor was sitting in her car on the street about to head to work when the explosion happened.
"I thought somebody hit me from the back because I heard this big, big explosion," said Mariclare Depape. "When I got out, I realized that the house was in flames."
The owners of the home moved in two days ago and had left the house one hour before it exploded. No one was inside during the explosion.
No injuries were reported, but Mongillo said if people would have been home that likely would be a different story.
"If you look at the force of the explosion blasting windows, it would have been very dangerous for anybody to be here," said Mongillo.
The fire marshal was on scene, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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