(Credit: New Castle County Paramedics via Facebook)
NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. - An explosion along train tracks in northern Delaware on Saturday damaged several buildings, but no one was injured.
Delaware explosion
What we know:
The incident happened shortly before 1 p.m. on Saturday, on the train tracks near Wrangle Hill Road in Bear, according to Christiana Fire Company.
When firefighters got there, they found a railroad track repair machine on fire. The blast set the machine on fire, and lit some brush fires nearby.
The flames and damage damaged a nearby commercial building, which officials said was likely caused by flaming debris. At least five homes in the Oakwood community were damaged, and officials said one home on Wrangle Hill Road was so severely damaged it was rendered uninhabitable.
Photos shared on Facebook showed the extensive damage to the equipment on the tracks, and a nearby building that appeared to have several large garage doors blown outward.
Firefighters were able to get the situation under control. No one was injured in the explosion.
What they're saying:
Local Councilman Kevin Caneco said on Facebook that "the incident is under control," and thanked first responders for their efforts to put out the fire.
What caused the explosion?
Dig deeper:
Christiana Fire officials said the explosion was caused by a 500-pound propane tank on the back of the railroad track repair machine. The machine is designed to heat the rails, officials said.
By Saturday night, the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office determined that the explosion was accidental.
The Source: Information in this story is from New Castle County Paramedics and Councilman Kevin Caneco on Facebook, the Christiana Fire Company and The Delaware State Fire Marshal.