CORRECTION: A previous version of this story attributed details about the woman killed in the explosion to a spokesperson for air ambulance service Ornge. Ornge does not have any details of the woman’s age or identity. Investigators still don’t know what caused an explosion in Kitchener, Ont., that left a woman dead and a man with serious injuries on Wednesday. Kitchener fire chief Jon Rehill said firefighters were called to the home on Sprucedale Crescent at 8:10 a.m. in response to a reported explosion. Emergency crews arrived at the scene to find a woman dead and a man seriously hurt. An air ambulance was brought in to take the man to a trauma centre in Hamilton. Jamie Compton says he was driving through the neighbourhood when he saw smoke. As he got closer to the inferno, he heard screams for help. Compton says he helped get the injured man to the street but couldn’t do anything to assist the woman. “We (saw) her lying there and we didn’t know what to do,” he told CTV Kitchener. Ellen Hergott, who lives nearby, said she heard a “huge explosion” and glass shattering. She went outside thinking a tree had fallen, and soon realized she could see black smoke from her front yard. Hergott told CTV News Channel that she walked over to the explosion site and talked to the injured man as he waited for an ambulance to arrive. “He was alert. He was breathing. He opened up his eyes. He did not respond to me,” she said. According to Hergott, the man was bleeding from the back of his head and had obvious burns on his head, hands and feet. Police said late Wednesday morning that they had not been able to identify the man or the woman. Neighbour Sam Bailie said that an older couple with two children lived in the home, and that their older son had moved out several weeks ago. “I feel sorry for them,” he said. Rehill said that 16 houses “will need to be evacuated for up to three days” and that “there are two significantly damaged homes that people will not be able to get back into for a long period of time.” As of Wednesday afternoon, firefighters were still dousing hotspots and the Office of the Fire Marshal was on scene to begin an investigation. “There is no preliminary word on the cause,” Rehill said. Waterloo Regional Police deputy chief Kevin Chalk said Wednesday afternoon that police were conducting a death investigation and that an autopsy would take place in the next two days. “Although we have received some information, it hasn’t transitioned as yet to a criminal investigation and we don’t know if in fact that will occur,” Chalk said. He said it is unclear whether the deceased woman and injured man were outside when the explosion happened or were “blown outside.” Heavy rain was moving through the area around the time of the explosion, and several neighbours reported hearing thunder and seeing lightning. Neighbours told CTV Kitchener that they heard the explosion and ran outside to find drywall and other debris raining down. “I heard a very loud rumbling – it was like intense thunder. Within about a second or two, there was a very loud explosion,” said Rick Berenz. “I actually had thought that an airplane had crashed in my backyard.” Much of the debris landed on the street. Some of it also appeared to have landed on parked vehicles, causing damage. People living as far as six blocks from the explosion site reported feeling their homes shake. City councillor Bil Ioannidis said he and his family heard the explosion from their home. “We heard this big bang and we were like ‘Wow, what was that?’” he told CTV News Channel, adding that the scent of smoke continued to permeate the neighbourhood more than an hour later. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic thanked first responders for their efforts and said members of the public can contact victim services if they need assistance. “An event of this magnitude is significant and traumatic for those directly impacted, as well as the community and the neighbourhood as a whole,” the mayor said. With reports from CTV Kitchener's Max Wark and Christina Succi Investigation is ongoing into house explosion on Sprucedale Crescent in Kitchener that occurred this morning. Members from the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal @OntarioWarnings, @ROWParamedics, @WRPSToday, @KWHydro, @CityKitchener @KitchFire are on scene. pic.twitter.com/8Yfr4i9Mc9 — Waterloo Reg. Police (@WRPSToday) August 22, 2018 Debris all over the road in front of the house on Sprucedale Cres. that exploded and caught fire this morning. pic.twitter.com/UJFmuFsSNg — Krista Simpson (@KristaSimpson) August 22, 2018<doc-sep>A woman is dead and a man has been airlifted to hospital after a house explosion in Kitchener, Ont. Emergency crews were called to a home on Sprucedale Crescent, between Claycroft Crescent and Blackwell Drive in the city's south end, just after 8 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The deceased woman and injured man have not yet been identified. Emergency officials said they were found in the backyard area of the home after the explosion. The man remains in critical condition at Hamilton General Hospital. Police said both people appear to have "come from the residence," but it wasn't known if they were visiting the home. "To our knowledge, at this point, everyone that we're aware of is accounted for. But we can't confirm that there is not anybody else in the dwelling, because we haven't been able to do that investigation at this point," said Deputy Chief Kevin Chalk, of the Waterloo Regional Police Service. "We haven't been able to get to the scene for obvious reasons. It's still unsafe to do so and coroner has yet to arrive to the scene to examine the deceased person." The house was levelled by the blast. The frantic moments just after the explosion were captured on camera and posted to Facebook. (Note: This video contains strong language.) Facebook video captures moments after house explosion CBC News 1:12 A witness captures the frantic moments after a south Kitchener home explodes 1:12 "We are currently actively fighting fires in three homes related to the explosion," Kitchener fire Chief Jon Rehill said shortly after 11 a.m. "This is a significant event that called all of our all available resources." Rehill said 16 homes were evacuated and it will be at least three days before people can return to those houses. The two neighbouring homes were most significantly damaged, he said, and those residents will be out of their homes longer. There is no damage estimate yet, Rehill said. "We're into the millions, there's no question." Neighbour heard 'big boom' Rehill said there was "significant damage" to the two houses on either side of the home that was destroyed, as well as one to the rear. "When you have a house explosion like this, there could be many reasons for it," said Chalk. "Some of it could be criminal, some of it would not be. All options are open at this point, until we have a chance to use the residence and do that examination and that." The house was not known to police, he said. Sharee Bailie, who lives on the street where the explosion occurred, said flames and debris hit her home. "All of a sudden, I just heard this big boom and everything was shaking and the lights went off. So I ran upstairs and I noticed that everything was off the walls and there was glass around," she said. "People were yelling, 'Get out of your house! Get out of your house!'" Bailie said she saw that the house next door had collapsed and a fire had started. "I imagine our curtains caught on fire, and the first level is supposedly not in good shape," she said. Police said everyone seemed to be accounted for following the explosion at the home on Sprucedale Crescent. (Waterloo Regional Police Service/Twitter ) Other people living nearby told CBC News they felt the ground shake and they came out of their homes to see vehicles covered in debris, as well as home insulation scattered on the street. There is currently no threat to neighbouring areas, Rehill said, but it was too soon to say when people might be able to safely return to their homes. Police said gas and power nearby would be shut off for a "lengthy amount of time," and Kitchener Utilities was on standby to assist with any other shutoffs as needed. Water service was expected to be returned to the homes by Wednesday evening. Officials are asking the public to avoid the area.<doc-sep>A woman found dead following a house explosion in Kitchener, Ont., is now considered the victim of a homicide, police confirmed Thursday. Edresilda Haan, 58, was found dead in the backyard on Wednesday morning, according to the Waterloo Regional Police Service. It’s unclear whether she died before or after the explosion, police said. The fatality was deemed a homicide following an autopsy and police investigation, Insp. Mike Haffner said during a Thursday afternoon press conference. “With evidence that we have extracted from the scene, as well as the results of the autopsy that was conducted by the Coroner’s Office, we are confident that Ms. Haan, her death, was the result of a homicide,” Haffner said. A 58-year-old man who lived at the home was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following the blast. He remains in hospital, but police could not confirm his condition. Family members identified the man as Udo Haan. Witnesses said he was bleeding from the back of his head and had obvious burn injuries. Haffner did not identify the man by name but said he lived in the same house and was “related” to Edresilda. Police would not confirm whether he is considered a suspect. “At this point we are investigating the circumstances and we await for that individual to come out of hospital so that we can question that individual in relation to the circumstances of this explosion,” Haffner said. Haffner said investigators will determine whether Edresilda died before or after the explosion once they have safe access to the home. “The difficulty we’re having right now is the scene needs to be maintained safe for our investigators as well as the office of the Ontario Fire Marshal to access the scene, at which point in conjunction with the Coroner’s Office, I’m sure a determination of the time of death will be made,” he said. The force of the blast demolished the home and caused damage to two nearby residences. Residents from 16 nearby homes were evacuated as a result of the explosion, police said. A family dog was killed in the blast. A second dog survived and is now receiving care from a veterinarian. The couple worked together at Sun Life Financial, CTV Kitchener confirmed. The company lowered the flags at its Kitchener office to half-mast Thursday and issued a statement extending “heartfelt condolences and thoughts” to the couple’s loved ones and colleagues. Victim was a ‘lifeline’ to her parents Neighbours described the family as kind and quiet, saying they have lived in the Sprucedale Crescent home for about 25 years. Edresilda Haan, known as Edra to loved ones, is being remembered as kind, loving and dedicated. Her brother, Al Pinheiro, described her as a “very giving, very unselfish person” who was the caregiver and “lifeline” for her parents. “She was a loving mother, sister, daughter and wife,” Pinheiro told CTV Kitchener in a statement. “As a sister, she was somebody I looked up to. Someone who put her family ahead of herself.” Pinheiro said Haan had two adult children “who are now surrounded by extended family during this difficult time.” Kitchener deputy fire chief Rob Martin told reporters Thursday that he was hopeful people would be allowed to walk back to most of the evacuated homes later in the day, although the road around the explosion site would likely remain closed to vehicles until the weekend. “First and foremost, our priority is to return our residents to their homes,” he said. Martin said testing of the ground outside the home and the natural gas line leading to the home had found no leaks. He said the next step in the investigation was for heavy equipment to come in and pull apart the wreckage of the home. There will be an increased police presence in the area “well into next week,” Haffner said. Anyone with information related to the explosion is asked to contact the Waterloo Regional Police Service. With reports from CTV Kitchener’s Nicole Lampa and Christina Succi<doc-sep>
Send this page to someone via email A woman was killed after an explosion ripped through a home on Sprucedale Crescent in Kitchener on Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for Ornge air ambulance also confirmed that a man was flown to Hamilton General with critical injuries. Neighbours identified the man injured in the explosion as Udo Haan, while also saying that his wife, Edra, was killed in the explosion. Authorities have not confirmed the identities of the victims. READ MORE: House explosion in London’s east end sends one to hospital Kitchener Fire Chief Jon Rehill said that they were called to the scene at 8:10 a.m. for reports of an explosion and immediately set to work on evacuating the homes. Within 10 minutes, the 32 firefighters that were at the scene had turned their attention to the fires. Story continues below advertisement In an afternoon update, Rehill said they were still working to put out the fire although he noted that the utilities had been secured. “Utilities in this neighbourhood have been secured and there is no threat to the neighbouring residences,” Rehill said. Rehill said the house where the explosion occurred has been destroyed. “Principal house is completely levelled and there is significant damage to the two houses on either side,” he said. He could not provide an exact dollar figure for the destruction but the fire chief said it was in seven figures. “I don’t have a total thus far but we’re into the millions, there’s no question about it,” Rehill said Wednesday afternoon. Story continues below advertisement Investigation is ongoing into house explosion on Sprucedale Crescent in Kitchener that occurred this morning. Members from the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal @OntarioWarnings, @ROWParamedics, @WRPSToday, @KWHydro, @CityKitchener @KitchFire are on scene. pic.twitter.com/8Yfr4i9Mc9 — Waterloo Reg. Police (@WRPSToday) August 22, 2018 Nearby homes have been evacuated and residents could be forced to spend up to several days away from their homes. “Approximately 16 houses will need to be evacuated for up to three days as the investigation continues to ensure the safety of these residents,” Rehill explained. He said that it was a precautionary measure and that it did not appear as if the other homes were damaged. Waterloo deputy police chief Kevin Chalk said the scene is currently being deemed a death investigation. WATCH: Firefighters respond to fatal Kitchener house explosion 1:10 Firefighters respond to fatal Kitchener house explosion Firefighters respond to fatal Kitchener house explosion – Aug 22, 2018 “We haven’t been able to get to the scene for obvious reasons until it’s safe to do so and the coroner has yet to arrive on scene,” he explained. Story continues below advertisement “We’re somewhat hampered by the fact that we can’t get to the scene to do an investigation other than peripheral at this point.” A man who was visiting family nearby described seeing a “fireball” shortly after the explosion. A closer look at the flattened remains of the house at 58 Sprucedale Cres, and the damage to the homes in either side. #Kitchener pic.twitter.com/t4WPGgNUEi — Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) August 22, 2018 “We were sitting in brother’s family room at about 10 after eight when suddenly we could feel the compression from the explosion and we looked out he back just in time to see this explosion in the sky and there were pieces of lumber (and) siding raining down,” the man said. “Then the flames suddenly caught and within five minutes it was fully engulfed.” Earlier reports suggested that there may have been 10 people in the house at the time of the explosion but Chalk said that was “false.” READ MORE: Hamilton house explosion leads to charges against owner “To our knowledge at this point, everyone is accounted for that we are aware of but we can’t confirm that there isn’t anyone else in the dwelling,” he explained. He said the victim and the injured man were found in the backyard. “They could have been outside or blown outside,” Chalk said Wednesday afternoon.