An explosion on Madison's eastside early Tuesday morning awoke residents across the city, left one man dead and reduced a two-story house to smoke and debris.
\It's weird because some people saw it off Atwood [Ave.], some people heard it down by the Coliseum, so it was heard from a long ways,"" said Madison Fire Department spokesperson Barbara Galvez.
The blast occurred at 161 Division St., which is just north of Atwood Ave. Madison Police Sgt. Eric Tripke said police received a call at 3:56 a.m., immediately after the explosion occurred.
The explosion reduced the two-story home to a pile of rubble, with debris scattered on the yard and in nearby trees. Galvez said homes within a half-block radius of the initial blast had shattered windows, adding authorities are ordering residents of 25 homes in the area to evacuate.
""Many of these homes have some damage in them,"" said Madison Gas and Electric spokesperson Steve Kraus. ""There's a lot of equipment down there and the fire department and the police need to have some area to work in.""
Witnesses said they smelled natural gas after the explosion, but Galvez said it is too early to determine what caused the blast.
""We haven't been able to get in [the house] because there's so much debris and stuff falling from the trees from the explosion,"" she said.
However, Kraus said authorities speculate the explosion was caused by something in the house and not by any nearby construction.
Tripke said members of the Red Cross will provide assistance for those forced to evacuate their homes and expects the area will be secured for at least one night.
After the police and fire department finish their preliminary investigation, Kraus said MGE will help authorities find the cause of the explosion.
""Then comes the monumental task for these people and the insurance adjusters to get in and get a lot of glass replaced and get things back to normal,"" Tripke said.
The last time a similar explosion occurred in Madison was in 2000; it occurred at a student rental house. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said although students should not be overly concerned about natural gas leaks and furnace problems in aging downtown student housing, he hopes landowners in the city will diligently check water heaters, furnaces and other sources of natural gas.
""It is a useful reminder to all of us, but to especially landowners themselves,"" he said.
-Josh Salm contributed to this report
