PRESTON HOLLOW — Two gas-fueled house explosions have left a North Side community shaken, with federal investigators now working to determine what caused the blasts that injured five people.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation and aims to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
The explosions rocked the Preston Hollow neighborhood 24 hours ago, leaving residents alarmed and searching for answers.
“There’s a lot of people really scared,” said Kevin Johnson, a neighborhood resident who remains skeptical after Tuesday night’s chaos. “I think the homeowners here would like to know really what happened, what they could have did to maybe not make the second one happen.”
The first blast injured a family of three, including Tim Nowell, a student pastor at Wayside Chapel. The church’s lead pastor said Tim has faithfully served the student ministry for over 17 years and is beloved by the entire church family.
“Tim and his family are deeply woven into the family of who we are as a church,” the pastor said. Noel’s wife Kim, a math teacher at MacArthur, and their daughter Ali, a student at the high school, are familiar faces and involved members of the neighborhood HOA.
Johnson said his prayers are with both impacted families tonight. “I haven’t heard anything on the second family, what happened with them yet or not, but hopefully full recovery and a little luck. Maybe they can rebuild here. Who knows, you know.”
District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte confirmed that all residents are allowed back into their homes, with the exception of five houses — including the three impacted by the explosions and fires, and two others on the street. Whyte also said CPS Energy will reimburse hotel costs for families who were displaced.
