Neiles residence (Regina)

 house, explosion site

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This is the private residence of John and Helen Neiles. On April 11, 2011 at about 4:30 AM, a natural gas explosion destroyed the home. Incredibly, the couple survived the blast. John was able to escape the burning wreckage through a window, while Helen was literally blown out of the house by the force of the explosion. She was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while her husband had only minor injuries. Gas leaking from a damaged underground line several houses away was determined to be the cause of the blast.
www.leaderpost.com/entertainment/television/tv-listings...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2011/04/12/sk...

Several other house fires occurred in the neighbourhood in the days prior to the explosion, raising suspicion that the leaking gas line was a common cause. Other parts of south Regina also suffered from gas line leaks, resulting in explosions and fires.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2011/05/10/sk...

As of 2011, the Neiles' are building a new house on the same property. They are also suing SaskEnergy and the city for not doing enough to prevent the gas leak that caused the explosion.
regina.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110622/sask-ga...

John Neiles was a teacher in the public school system in Regina. Upon his retirement in 1995, the gymnasium at Balfour Collegiate was named after him. Helen Neiles was a nurse for many years.