Gas leak suspected in Denny's explosion

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The explosion Saturday afternoon at a Denny's restaurant that injured two people is believed to have been caused by a gas leak, authorities said.

One of those injured in the 3 p.m. blast was a female customer who had glass in her eye, and the other was a 21-year-old man, according to South Lake Tahoe Fire Capt. Greg Gstettenbauer.

South Lake Tahoe police Sgt. Shannon Laney said the explosion was not being considered a criminal matter.

The explosion knocked out part of the front of the building at Al Tahoe and Lake Tahoe boulevards, exposing beams and shattering glass. The building was boarded up Sunday.

"The building sustained major structural damage," Gstettenbauer said.

Gstettenbauer said leaking gas apparently pooled in the attic over several days and then was ignited by an unknown source.

"This is unusual for any type of building," he said. "There was a crack in the pipe by a meter. There was a snow load on the meter that cracked the piping, which created the leak."

Gstettenbauer said Denny's did not appear to be in violation of any health or safety codes related to the explosion. The building will be closed indefinitely.

On Saturday, Barton Memorial Hospital reported that three people had been treated for injuries after the explosion, but Gstettenbauer said Sunday that only two had been injured. The reason for the discrepancy was unclear.