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Explosion galvanizes Girard neighbors
Girard House Explosion
Gallery
A House on the Corner of Townsend and Washington Streets in Girard Exploded Thursday, July 18, 2008 around 6:30 p.m. Photographers James Hughes and Steve Meyers contributed to this slide show.
Girard Explosion
Video
GIRARD — An explosion that rocked an entire city neighborhood Thursday also shook dozens of residents into action, with concern for friends and neighbors.
At about 6:15 p.m. residents in the immediate, and not so immediate, area of Washington Avenue near Church Hill Road were pulled from dinner table, outdoor activities and evening television by an explosions that could be heard and felt about a mile away.
The house at 824 Washington had exploded.
Firefighters, gas company representatives and the state fire marshal were on the scene this morning and through the afternoon, but no cause has been determined. It is the responses of everyday people, however, that was of note.
Doug Beach lives five houses away from the destroyed residence and felt the explosion rock his home.
He immediately ran out to see if anyone was injured and who needed help before returning home to put on shoes and look for his teen son who was out playing with other kids often seen playing in the area.
Kenny Moran, Washington Avenue resident and street department superintendent, was shopping at a grocery store a few blocks away when the call about an explosion near his home came across the radio. His buggy was left center aisle as he raced to make it back to his neighborhood.
“My house I wasn’t worried about. I was more worried about the neighbor kids because we had a lot of kids who would play ball in the street and stuff around here everyday,” he said.
For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.