Truckee house fire blamed on broken gas pipe

Truckee fire investigators believe heavy snow led to a propane pipe breaking, allowing gas to leak into a house that ultimately exploded and caught fire, completely destroying the home on Muir Court in Serene Lakes on April 28. 

Investigators found a broken gas line just outside of the home below 10 to 15 feet of snow. 

The house was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries.

Fire Marshal Craig Harvey said, “In cases like these the snow shifts and settles sometimes breaking exposed pipes. The leaking propane gas, which is slightly heavier than the air, will flow into low spots and structures like this nearby home. Once that gas reaches explosive levels it can come in contact with a heat source like a water heater pilot light causing a large explosion followed by a fire, like what probably happened in this case.”  

— Lake Tahoe News staff report