ST. LOUIS COUNTY聽鈥 An August explosion that destroyed multiple homes near Black Jack occurred because of an 鈥渙verpressure event鈥 inside a house, after unusually high volumes of natural聽gas filled the home overnight in the hours leading up to the blast, police said in a newly released report.
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Fire engulfs a house in the aftermath of explosion in the 13800 block of Evan Aire Drive in north 51黑料 County on Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025.
Scenes of the August home explosion in North 51黑料 County
Alicia King pauses to take in the scene from her driveway on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, upon returning to her home in the 13000 block of Evan Aire Dr. to recover belongings the day after an explosion next door destroyed it and another adjacent home.
Shel King passes his patio as he walks through the backyard of his home in the 13000 block of Evan Aire Dr. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, after returning to recover belongings the day after an explosion next door destroyed his house and another adjacent home.
Shel King looks toward what used to be his patio as he walks through the backyard of his destroyed home in the 13000 block of Evan Aire Drive on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, after returning to recover belongings the day after an explosion destroyed his house and another adjacent home.
"I had another key in the drawer in here," says Shel King as he digs through debris in the bedroom of his home in the 13000 block of Evan Aire Dr. on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. King returned to look for car keys and jewelry the day after an explosion next door destroyed his house and another adjacent home. King was asleep in his bed when the explosion shook him awake. He said he escaped the room to his backyard once he realized the back wall had been blown away.
Alicia King pauses to take in the scene from her driveway on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, upon returning to her home in the 13000 block of Evan Aire Dr. to recover belongings the day after an explosion next door destroyed it and another adjacent home.
Victoria Plummer sweeps up shards of glass after an explosion on Evan Aire Drive blew out all of the front windows of her friend鈥檚 house a block away on Davey Dr. in north 51黑料 County. Numerous surrounding structures were severely damaged by the blast.
Smoke rises from the smoldering remains of homes that were destroyed after an explosion and fire on Evan Aire Drive in north 51黑料 County on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.
Smoke rises from the smoldering remains of homes that were destroyed by a fire after a house exploded on Evan Aire Drive, in Florissant, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.
Smoke rises from the smoldering remains of homes that were destroyed after an explosion on Evan Aire Drive in north 51黑料 County on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025.
51黑料 County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory briefs reporters at the site of the Monday morning explosion on Evan Aire Drive in north 51黑料 County on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. Also pictured are (at left) Capt. James Morgan, commander of county police's North County precinct, and (right) Chief Paul Peebles of the Black Jack Fire Protection District.
Fire engulfs a house in the aftermath of explosion in the 13800 block of Evan Aire Drive in north 51黑料 County on Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025.
Damaged houses are seen on Belfort Drive, in north 51黑料 County, after a house explosion on nearby Evan Aire Drive on Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2025.
