Findings deem deadly American Fork home explosion unintentional, but preventable with ‘proper awareness’
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- Rubble and debris is shown in an undated photo after a home exploded, killing an American Fork woman in March 2024.
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- Debris is shown in an undated photo after a home exploded, killing an American Fork woman in March 2024.
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- The aftermath of an duplex home explosion in American Fork that left an elderly woman dead is shown in an undated photo.
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- Rubble and debris is shown in an undated photo after a home exploded, killing an American Fork woman in March 2024.
Nearly nine months after a deadly home explosion in American Fork, a newly released investigative report details what happened prior to the blast.
The 24-page report released by the American Fork Fire Department on Monday concluded that a significant increase of natural gas reached flammable levels inside the home’s furnace and may have ignited the explosion.
78-year-old Kathy Harrison was found dead in her home located at 67 N. 300 East on the morning of March 20. American Fork police, firefighters and other emergency responders were called out to the home just before 6 a.m. on reports of an apparent explosion.
Another woman who was said to be the owner of the duplex survived, as well as a dog who emerged from the rubble and was listed in good condition.
According to the report, Dominion Energy workers were at the residence a day before the explosion performing what’s called a “hot change” on the natural gas system located outside of the home. The service allowed Dominion Energy to make changes to the home’s natural gas valves without interrupting service.
In speaking with investigators, the surviving victim recounted the Dominion Energy workers at the home that day and noted that she let one of them use the bathroom.
While inside, according to the report, the worker thought he smelled natural gas but she said he didn’t find anything after exploring for the source of the odor with a flammable gas detector.
The crew finished their work and left the premises early that afternoon.
The homeowner, who was not identified, said she went to a movie shortly after, returned home and went to bed just before 9 p.m.
“She said she was awakened when the house shook,” investigators reported being told by the woman, according to the report.
According to the investigation, the technician who was subcontracted by Dominion performing the “hot change” had only been working on natural gas systems for about a week and a half. The findings go on to say that at some point during the service, the technician required additional assistance from Dominion crews who then called in their own help after “experiencing complications,” though the report doesn’t specify what the complications were.
The report speculates that one of the subcontractors servicing the line may have left the supply valve open, causing an increased usage of natural gas from approximately 2 p.m. the day prior to the explosion until 6 a.m. the next morning when the furnace ignited.
“The flammable mixture rapidly ignited through the home creating an explosion from the enclosed environment,” the report said.
On the morning of the incident, an American Fork Fire & Rescue battalion chief heard “a constant blowing sound consistent with something leaking,” the report said. “He followed the sound to the exposed riser of the underground natural gas line where he found an open shutoff valve. When he found the valve, He closed it, stopping the noise.”
While investigators concluded the explosion was accidental, “the home explosion could have been prevented with proper awareness,” the report stated.
Earlier in the findings, investigators indicated that no pressure testing was done on any of the gas lines because there was no interruption of natural gas service while the technicians were at the home.
Investigators believe that had a leak test been conducted upon completion of the service, the open valve may have been discovered.
