WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Human remains were found in the rubble of a home explosion in Westminster early Tuesday morning. A cadaver dog alerted crews to possible human remains inside of the structure later in the afternoon, according to the Westminster Police Department.
The Adams County Coroner's Office identified the remains as 51-year-old Duane Cameron Doyle.
The explosion occurred at a home in the 7700 block of Knox Court around 2:38 a.m. Tuesday, Lt. Brian Clark with the Westminster Fire Department confirmed.
When crews arrived on scene just minutes later, they found a single-family home was destroyed, according to Westminster EMS Chief Jeromy Hill. There was no fire following the explosion, Hill confirmed.
This is what’s left of the home that exploded in #Westminster this morning. @XcelEnergyCO crews on scene here. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/mNhZUDnrgS
— Veronica Acosta (@VeronicacostaTV) February 22, 2022
Two nearby homes and several cars in the area were damaged.
Cars that were parked along the street are damaged - it almost looks like bricks from the #explosion smashed through the windows.
— Colette Bordelon (@ColetteBordelon) February 22, 2022
No injuries have been reported - but investigators don’t know if the home was occupied at the time. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/wHGT0OQ1UR
David Brand, who lives nearby, said the explosion shook everything, caused plants to fall over and knocked pictures off his walls.
"I originally thought a car hit my house," Brand said. "Then, I got to looking outside and I could see that the house was gone and there was smoke and debris rolling out."
Video from Blaine Leishman's home surveillance also captured the blast.
Brand said the home was "burned out, boarded up and had an 'inhospitable' sign."
Xcel Energy responded to the scene after there were multiple gas leaks as a result of the explosion. Crews stopped all leaks and secured the scene at 5:20 a.m.
Homes had to be evacuated as a precaution, but residents were allowed to return after Xcel reported utilities were under control.
The department is investigating what caused the home to explode. Crews were not able to sift through the debris immediately after the explosion due to hazardous conditions, according to Hill.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Reporters Colette Bordelon and Veronica Acosta contributed to this report.