Investigation continues into January house explosion

The Iowa State Fire Marshal is still investigating what caused a January explosion that destroyed a Washington house and resulted in the death of a resident in January.

Washington Fire Chief Brendan DeLong said Wednesday that fire investigators are still going over evidence gathered from the site at 1114 E. Washington St.

“The property has been released back to the property owner, and he has cleaned it up,” DeLong said. “The State Fire Marshal’s office is still going over everything, dotting the ‘I’s’ and crossing the ‘T’s.’”

He said that he has not received any word as to when the results of the investigation will be completed and released.

The explosion in the early morning hours of Jan. 4 destroyed the home and damaged several other adjacent houses.

One adult was killed and a child was injured in the explosion that sent debris over a several block area.

A house at 1120 E. Washington, next door to the explosion, was damaged so badly that it was demolished in March.

The investigation was delayed by poor weather in February, and investigators returned to the site in early April to resume their work.