Cause of South Side house blast ruled arson

YOUNGSTOWN — The cause of an explosion that leveled a 535 Cohasset Ave. home Wednesday morning is arson, said Capt. Alvin Ware, the city fire department's chief fire investigator.

Ware said today the gas lines to the home were secure and had no leaks. He said the gas and electricity was left on inside the vacant home and the stove was taken. The explosion and fire were in the area of the stove, Ware said.

Ware said when the stove was taken, the gas line ruptured and that allowed the gas to build up. With the electric also being on, that could have caused a spark when an appliance kicked on that would have triggered the gas to explode, Ware said.

No one was injured in the blast, but a home next door was heavily damaged.

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