WATERLOO, Iowa — Authorities did confirm on Friday that it was a natural gas leak that caused the home explosion in Waterloo, taking the life of Bryan Lee Mueller.
While the Waterloo fire marshal says this was an “isolated and intentional incident,” normal gas leaks can happen.
Iowa’s News Now spoke with Waterloo Fire and MidAmerican Energy officials today who wouldn’t talk to us directly about this explosion, but talked about what you can do if you suspect a gas leak in your home.
“If the public does detect a gas leak, call MidAmerican Energy and also call 9-1-1,” Waterloo Fire Marshal Brock Weliver said.
Austin Holst, the Gas Operations Manager of MidAmerican Energy, says one of the best ways to determine if you have a gas leak is by the smell.
“The most common warning sign, and the one that we rely on for the homeowners to assist us, is the smell. We add mercaptan to the gas system in each town, and that’s that rotten egg smell, that kinda skunky smell,” Holst said.
If you notice this smell in your home or business, act fast.
“If that smell something that they think is natural gas, leave the premise immediately, leave the area immediately and then call us. That’s first and foremost. Natural gas, if the levels in the house are appropriate, can be triggered by sparks, anything inside the house,” Holst said.
Gas leaks can happen in any home that has natural gas lines. With the right precautions, tragedies like this can be avoided.
“Carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, they are first indicators that there is an emergency in your house. So anytime you hear those alarms going off, it should indicate to you that there’s a problem and to get outside your house and to call 911, that there’s an emergency present at your residence,” Weliver said.
MidAmerican Energy and Waterloo Fire stress the company’s gas delivery system is working properly and that there’s no threat to the public.
They say any neighbors with damage from the explosion should contact their own home insurance companies.