Man in critical condition after explosion destroys south London, Ont., home

Man in critical condition after explosion destroys south London, Ont., home

Fire officials say vacant house is a total loss, cause under investigation

House explosion in south London, one person critically injured

A man is in hospital with critical injuries after an explosion destroyed a house in south London Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to 131 Base Line Rd. W. shortly after 1 p.m., where firefighters found smoke and flames coming from what remained of the home, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bridge said.

The house is a "total loss," according to the London Fire Department.

Bridge said one person was taken to hospital in critical condition, but he could not confirm whether the person was inside or outside the house when the explosion occurred. London Police later confirmed in a statement that the injured person was an adult male.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

The house had been vacant and was inspected monthly by fire crews, Bridge said. Although no one was living there, the natural gas service remained active. Enbridge Gas crews were on scene to shut off the gas and other utilities, he said.

Multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion in the 100 block of Baseline Rd W. We can confirm there is a total loss of a house. Unknown injuries at this time. Fire crew are in the offensive attack. Primary search all clear. Please avoid this area. #ldnont @cityoflondon pic.twitter.com/Yg54zNSync

Emergency crews remained at the scene Wednesday afternoon, and Base Line Road West was closed as firefighters continued their work. The London Fire Department is asking people to avoid the area.

Loveleen Gogna was working from her third-floor apartment when the explosion happened. She said the blast caused her balcony screen door to fall on her.

"I saw outside it was a big explosion and the roof of that house just blew like 40 feet up," she said. "It was a frightening scene for me."

Vehicles in her building's parking lot were also damaged, she added.

Residents across the street said they also felt the force of the explosion.

"It was like a plane landed on the roof, or an explosion above my apartment," said Gerald Anderson, who lives in a London Community Housing building opposite the house.

"The house was flattened. There's glass — stuff from across the street is all over our property."

Anderson said residents rushed outside to see what had happened after the blast.

Jack joined CBC London after graduating from Fanshawe College in 2025. He previously studied political science and Russian studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. You can contact him at jack.sutton@cbc.ca.