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Updated 10/27/2009 06:23 PM

Flushing Homes Harmed By Gas Explosion To Be Repaired

By: NY1 News

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Three homes that were rocked by an accidental gas explosion yesterday need extensive repairs, according to the Department of Buildings.

Correcting previous reports, DOB officials say the building at 3235 Leavitt Street in Flushing does not need to be demolished after the blast severely damaged its front.

Instead, only the building's front facade needs to be removed.

Two buildings attached to the affected building were also damaged. The house at 3233 Leavitt Street needs half of its front facade to be removed, while a front canopy on 3237 Leavitt Street needs to be removed.

All three houses' partition walls on the first floor also need to be shored up.

The city Housing Preservation and Development Department is taking care of all repairs.

Fire officials say a man living in an apartment in 3235 Leavitt Street was bleeding propane from a tank yesterday evening, when the propane gas accidentally leaked into the building, where it was ignited.

The man suffered burns to his arms and face. He's in serious condition, but fire officials say he's expected to recover.

"We believe the propane blew back through the back door into the house, collecting on the ground floor, and at some point it hit an ignition point causing the explosion," explained FDNY Assistant Chief Edward Kilduff.

Neighbors say they felt the explosion from blocks away.

"At first I thought it was a rumble of thunder, but it’s not the weather for it,” said one local resident. “And then I said, ‘let's wait until we hear ambulances and fire and see.’ That's when we came out."

"We were in the house, watching TV, and we felt the whole building shake,” said another. “We thought it was one of the trees, but it wasn't."

A woman who firefighters rescued from under debris suffered minor injuries.

Officials don't know when any of the residents will be allowed to return to their homes.