On September 17, 2020, a home in Gypsum, Colorado’s Chatfield Corners neighborhood exploded due to a natural gas leak caused by a contractor drilling for a fiber-optic project. The explosion resulted in the death of 49-year-old Patricia Roe and led to the evacuation of approximately 200 homes in the area.
- Cause: A contractor drilling for a fiber-optic installation struck a two-inch natural gas line, leading to a leak that accumulated gas beneath the home.
- Location: 50 Cottonwood Pass Road, Chatfield Corners neighborhood, Gypsum, Colorado.
- Injuries: One fatality—Patricia Roe; no other injuries reported.
- Investigation: The incident was investigated by local authorities with assistance from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
- Gas Leak: The gas leak went unnoticed for several hours, allowing gas to accumulate under the home before igniting.
- Aftermath: The explosion prompted the evacuation of nearby homes, and the fiber-optic project was put on indefinite hold.
Every year, hundreds of natural gas leaks and explosions put families, homes, and entire neighborhoods at risk.
That’s why the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued a formal recommendation:
All states should require natural gas alarms in homes.
Why? Because too many preventable tragedies are happening in silence. And most people don’t realize:
⚠️ Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors do not detect natural gas.
Help Spread the Word
You probably know someone who has gas piping and could benefit from natural gas alarms.
Take 10 seconds to help them stay safe: