A natural gas explosion destroyed an apartment complex for enlisted personnel at Fort Benjamin Harrison Army base , killing a 5-year old girl and injuring several residents and visitors . Two people were still listed in critical condition . The authorities were called in about 5:45pm , 3 hours before the blast , after people reported smelling gas . About 210 families were evacuated after the explosion. The gas was turned off at the housing unit where the explosion was thought to be , but while that building was being evacuated , a unit 800 - 1000 feet away , where the gas had not been turned off , blew up . The blast destroyed one four - family unit and damaged another .
A natural gas explosion destroyed an apartment complex for enlisted personnel at Fort Benjamin Harrison Army base , killing a 5-year old girl and injuring several residents and visitors . Two people were still listed in critical condition . The authorities were called in about 5:45pm , 3 hours before the blast , after people reported smelling gas . The gas was turned off at the housing unit where the explosion was thought to be , but while that building was being evacuated , a unit 800 - 1000 feet away , where the gas had not been turned off , blew up . The blast destroyed one four - family unit and damaged another .