Christmas Eve explosion in Citrus Heights investigated as crime scene

By Sara Beth Williams–
An explosion on Christmas Eve in a Citrus Heights neighborhood sent one person to the hospital with critical injuries and displaced residents living in an adjacent unit.

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn said Tuesday that someone inside a duplex unit on Trovita Way in Citrus Heights “intentionally” used a propane tank as an incendiary device. The propane tank exploded, blowing out one of the side walls of the duplex unit.

Emergency crews initially responded to a house on Trovita Way just after 10:45 a.m. to reports of a gas leak and upon entering the home, found a small fire still smoldering and one occupant with “critical” burn injuries. The injured person was transported to the hospital.

Gas and electrical utilities were shut off to the home and the propane gas was contained. There is no threat to the public, Wilbourn said.

The occupant was the only person found in the unit where the explosion took place. Wilbourn added that three other occupants living in an adjoining unit were not home at the time of the explosion.

Heavy police and fire activity could be seen on Trovita Way around 11 a.m., but the street remained open to traffic as police and fire officials continued to investigate the scene. Several neighbors could be seen outside observing.

The incident is being investigated as arson and is “technically a crime scene,” according to Sac Metro Fire, though no caution tape blocked off the scene. Emergency officials were still in the process of contacting the adjoining household mid-day Tuesday.