NTSB Investigates After Two Natural Gas Explosions Injure Five in San Antonio

Federal investigators are probing a series of two natural gas explosions that occurred on a single San Antonio block on Tuesday evening, April 22, 2026. The blasts, which occurred two hours apart on Preston Hollow Drive, left five people hospitalized with severe burn injuries, including a child. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is specifically investigating why evacuation orders were not issued before the second explosion occurred.

The Details

The first blast occurred at approximately 6 p.m. in the 15000 block of Preston Hollow Drive near Thousand Oaks Drive. The victims of the first explosion have been identified as Tim Nowell, a pastor at Wayside Chapel, Kim Nowell, a teacher at MacArthur High School, and their daughter, Ali. While the parents are reported to be in stable condition, Ali remains in critical condition.

Two hours later, at approximately 8 p.m., a second explosion tore through a home located two doors down from the first site. This second blast resulted in two additional life-threatening injuries, bringing the total number of critical victims to three.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene where residents who had been watching the aftermath of the first blast returned to their homes before the second explosion ignited. Neighbor John Young recalled that people had been outside observing the first incident and went back inside just before their own house went into flames.

San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) officials confirmed the explosions were fueled by natural gas. Fire Chief Valerie Frausto noted that the severity of the blasts sent debris, including sheetrock and insulation, across the street and caused a roof to collapse.

In the immediate aftermath, emergency crews evacuated between 10 and 20 homes, and both gas and power services were shut off for the area. CPS Energy has since identified the source of the gas leak and established a customer response center at the Northeast Senior Center to assist displaced residents.

Context

Fire officials highlighted a dangerous aspect of natural gas leaks: the potential for the gas to become odorless. Fire Chief Valerie Frausto explained that under certain conditions, gas leaks can be extremely difficult to detect because the odorant typically added to the gas may be absent. SAFD Shift Commander Stephen Rustin compared the situation to carbon monoxide, stating that once the gas is odorless, a resident's natural defenses are down.

Technical data suggests that when gas travels underground, it can lose its mercaptan odorant, which is the chemical responsible for the distinct 'rotten egg' smell that alerts people to a leak. This phenomenon likely contributed to the lack of warning before the explosions.

Local community support has mobilized quickly. The principal of MacArthur High School has notified families and made counselors available to support students and staff affected by the injuries to Kim Nowell. Wayside Chapel has also issued a statement describing Tim Nowell as a beloved member of their church family who has served their student ministry for over 17 years.

What's Next

The NTSB's primary focus will be the timeline between the first and second explosions to determine if a failure in emergency protocol prevented a timely evacuation of the neighboring homes. This federal investigation will likely examine the coordination between the San Antonio Fire Department and CPS Energy during the initial response phase.

Structural engineers are currently assessing the damage to the affected properties. Early reports indicate that the first home involved is likely to be demolished due to the extent of the structural failure.

Residents of the 15000 block of Preston Hollow Drive remain displaced. Fire Chief Frausto emphasized that no one will be permitted to return to their homes until a comprehensive safety sweep is completed and the area is declared secure.