043026...R GIR-EXPLOSION 6...Girard...04-30-26...Firefighters battle a gas explosion fire at a home on the corner of N. State St and Gordon St. in Girard...Area firefighter on the scene were Girard, Liberty, Weathersfield, McDonald and Hubbard FD...by R. Michael Semple

GIRARD — As city officials wait to hear from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio about an investigation of a house explosion April 30 at 1018 N. State St., a ban on fiber optic companies digging in the city remains in effect.

The site on North State Street is vacant with hay and grass seed where the two-story home once stood. The home has been demolished and the ground leveled.

Safety Service Director Glenn Holmes said at Monday’s council meeting the suspension of any further digging by the parties involved will remain in effect until city officials can examine the findings of the PUCO investigation. He said the event on April 30 involving utility construction caused extensive damage to the house.

Holmes said the investigation will focus on digging beig done that day and how the gas lines were identified.

“We want to see what PUCO finds so we can prevent a recurrence of an event like that in the future,” Holmes said. “We want to make sure that any company digging, all procedures and processes are followed,” Holmes said.

He said he is not sure when Girard officials will hear from PUCO with their findings.

Holmes said he and Mayor Mark Zuppo kept the council members informed the day of the explosion. He said demolition of the house cost $23,600 and was done by Pro Quality Demolition, which was approved by members of council’s finance committee.

Officials praised police officers and firefighters at the scene.

Fire Chief Jim Petruzzi said two firefighters who were taken to the hospital have returned to work and police Chief John Freeman said a police officer taken to the hospital has returned to work, but is having some hearing issues.

“It was a terrible situation with firefighters injured,” Petruzzi said.

Freeman said they have received a grant for hearing protective devices for police officers.

Councilman James Clark, D-2nd Ward, said companies doing any type of digging need to have a safety manager on site.

While the residents of the home were not there when the explosion occurred, their dogs got out safely, and the cats that were missing have been found.