Advertisement

Hamilton house explosion leads to charges against owner

Click to play video: 'Home owner charged with arson for Hamilton house explosion'
Home owner charged with arson for Hamilton house explosion
Wed, Oct 25: A 76-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with arson, after an explosion that levelled his home. As Shallima Maharaj reports, the news is both troubling and puzzling to neighbours – Oct 25, 2017

The elderly man who was rescued from his collapsed home in Central Hamilton has now been charged.

Tuesday afternoon’s explosion obliterated the main floor of the two-storey home on Gibson Avenue and forced the evacuation of neighbouring homes.

The owner of the home, Murdoch Campbell, 76, has been charged with arson.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

Campbell was recovered from the rubble by emergency crews Tuesday afternoon and is recovering in hospital.  Family members say he lived alone in the home following the recent death of his wife.  Campbell’s dog was also rescued, coaxed from the debris hours later.

At its peak, as many as 300 homes were without natural gas.  Union Gas says its crews are working to restore service to all homes that had their gas turned off after the explosion.

Story continues below advertisement

The Hamilton police arson unit and the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office conducted the investigation.

Click to play video: 'Hamilton house explosion sends elderly man to hospital'
Hamilton house explosion sends elderly man to hospital

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices