Police say notes found at the scene of a fatal house explosion in Mississauga, Ont. may provide insight into the cause of the blast.
Dozens of homes, two apartment buildings and a townhouse complex were evacuated after a house on Hickory Drive near Willowbank Trail was levelled by an explosion around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, leaving debris scattered half a block away.
One woman was killed in the explosion but police said her identity has yet to be released until next of kin have been notified.
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Mississauga house explosion leaves 1 person dead
Police said they are also investigating reports of handwritten paper notes found near the blast scene.
“Citizens have reported seeing some pieces of paper with possible information that may lead us to the cause of this investigation,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans.
“We’re still in the initial stages on that but we are pursuing that as well.”
READ MORE: Explosion destroys home in Mississauga; 1 person dead, 25 houses damaged
Global News obtained one of the notes found at the scene and turned it over to police. The notes appear to be written by a woman who complains of an inability to maintain her house due to persistent health issues.
“I just stopped caring as much because of my pain … I trust God to look after me and my husband to take us home. I sleep away my days cause I am in pain. Vertigo is the worst.”
The notes also make several references to the Bible and the woman’s husband, who was also categorized as having health issues.
“Dear God, You know that my health and my husband’s health are in poor condition. We ask that you help us, we have trusted you with all of our lives and possessions because everything belongs to you; including us,” it reads.
“We have put all of our faith and trust in you. Only you can save us from man and his laws. … Why are we still here God?”
Residents at nearly two-thirds of the 700 addresses evacuated have been told by officials that they can return home Wednesday, but homes around the blast radius are still off limits.
The areas that continue to be cordoned off include Dixie Road to the east, Hickory Drive to north, Rathburn Road to south and just west of Hickory Drive.
Mississauga Fire Chief Tim Beckett told the media Wednesday morning that a heavy urban search and rescue team was brought in overnight to look for possible survivors caught in the blast but none were found.
“Both passes of the houses on either side of the blast zone showed us no hits,” said Beckett. “We’re comfortable there were no people in those buildings.”
Utilities surrounding the explosion perimeter remain shut off as a precaution.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie told a news conference Wednesday afternoon that there were still 20 to 25 people at the community centre and that two families – a total of six people – required shelter on Tuesday night.
“We want to assess their needs are and see whatever assistance that we can provide,” Crombie said.
City officials had set up a reception area for displaced residents at Burnhamthorpe Community Centre on 1500 Gulleden Dr. Tuesday evening but they expect the service will no longer be necessary and will likely be closed by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said 16 people required shelter while others who were displaced stayed with family or friends.
A spokesman for the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office said the cause of the explosion is still unknown and that investigators will be looking at all of the factors which may have contributed to the blast.
“The scene is extensive. So we’re going to work our way in. We’re not going to speculate as to cause until we have evidence that we can form any type of hypothesis on,” said Jeff Minton of the OFM.
Meanwhile, residents in the affected areas are being told to contact local authorities by calling 311 if they see damage to their homes.
Authorities admit those residences with extensive exterior damage may need to be demolished.
“We’re going to have a team of building inspectors and fire inspectors working the area to determine what type of damage that we have,” said Beckett.
One resident who lives several houses away from the explosion said he was in his kitchen talking to his daughter when a loud boom went off.
“This extreme bang just happened and I couldn’t figure out what was going on,” Luigi Nifo said.
“I looked around the outside perimeter and I couldn’t see anything so I went to the street and I looked down the street and I saw all this debris on the middle of the road.”
Nifo said he saw people running towards the blast but decided against following them.
“I’ve heard of a lot of gas explosions and they’re pretty devastating, so I didn’t want to go that way,” he said.
With files from The Canadian Press
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