At least one person was in hospital after two homes in western Manitoba were destroyed by a fire sparked by a gas explosion.
One of the homes in Virden burst into flames just after 9:00 a.m. Friday before the blaze spread to the neighbouring house.
RCMP say a homeowner was pulled from the fire and taken hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Manitoba Hydro spokesman Scott Powell said the homeowner called to tell them he smelled natural gas after driving spikes into the ground.
The homeowner thought he may have hit a gas line, Powell said.
A hydro employee attended the home and the explosion happened after the worker arrived.
Powell said the employee was "shaken" by the blast but did not require medical attention.
The Office of the Fire commissioner determined the cause of the explosion was the rupture of a gas line as a result of work done in the yard.
The office said natural gas then filtered into the home and was likely ignited by a pilot light.
Jeff McConnell, the mayor of Virden, said a loud explosion could be heard from several blocks away.
"We just thought something fell on the building," he said.
The fire commissioner's office said anyone doing work, or having work done around their property must call before digging, and ensure all local utilities are contacted and the area is checked before work proceeds.
(CTV Winnipeg, CJVM, CKLQ)
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