On December 8, 2020, a house explosion in South Omaha resulted in the deaths of three family members and caused significant damage to surrounding homes. The explosion occurred at 4810 S. 51st Street, destroying the residence and impacting neighboring structures. Investigators determined that a natural gas release within the home was ignited by an unknown source, but the exact cause of the gas leak remains undetermined.
- Cause: Natural gas release within the structure; ignition source undetermined.
- Location: 4810 S. 51st Street, South Omaha, Nebraska.
- Injuries: Three fatalities—Theresa Toledo (73), her daughter Angela Miller (45), and her grandson Alexander Toledo (28). Toledo’s partner, Larry Rodriguez (72), sustained serious injuries.
- Investigation: Conducted by the Omaha Fire Department and Omaha Police Department; no evidence of criminal activity was found.
- Gas Leak: Natural gas accumulated within the home; the source of the leak remains unidentified.
- Aftermath: The explosion prompted discussions on gas safety and led to a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Metropolitan Utilities District and two private companies, alleging negligence contributed to the incident.
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: