[Cboldt]

There are gas leaks, and there are gas leaks. In one case, the gas leaks out of the distribution network. That gas has the ethyl mercaptan (skunk) smell added, so leaks can be detected by human smell. But the earth sometimes leaks gas on it's own volition, and that stuff is odorless. I don't know if there is any natural gas in that part of Indiana.

Maybe a fire caused a pressurized tank (no leak) to explode.

[muawiyah]

I know the locations of several stripper wells within 40 miles of that site. However, the whole area was drilled and tapped for easy to get natural gas over a century ago. They've been drilling into the same formations to go deeper to do a bit of fraking to get natural gas.

The Cincinatti Arch underlies this region, and there's an ancient over thrust belt downthere as well, so you can get natural gas coming up through holes you didn't know where there. Many homeowners in Indiana get free gas through old wells.

If this wasn't a bomb of some kind it may be nothing but an old gas well overlooked when the developer built these homes in the recent past.

[terycarl]

But the earth sometimes leaks gas on it's own volition, and that stuff is odorless. I don't know if there is any natural gas in that part of Indiana.

there is indeed...Gas City Indiana is no more than 30 miles or so away...plenty of natural gas here