Firefighters determine cause of explosion in Palm Springs

The Palm Springs Fire Department has determined the cause of last week’s explosion that hospitalized a man in critical condition with burns to 95% of his body.

Investigators said an open natural gas valve caused the explosion and subsequent fire at the Mirage Vista Grande Resort on Monday, June 8, but they don’t know if the open gas valve was intentional or accidental.

Emergency crews were called to the 500 block of Warm Sands Drive shortly after 5 p.m. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the roof of the complex and quickly found out there was an explosion in one of the rooms.

Some of our viewers said the explosion felt like an earthquake, even from blocks away.

Officials said emergency crews were able to rescue the man who was in the room at the time of the explosion. He remains in Fontana at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in critical condition with burns covering 95% of his body. He’s unable to be interviewed at this time so investigators are waiting to hopefully get more information from him.

Firefighters quickly doused the flames and evacuated all neighboring rooms. Two other patients were treated at the hospital for minor injuries, according to a release from the Palm Springs Fire Department.

Investigators weren’t able to determine the ignition source that sparked the natural gas vapors. They said there were no code violations located at the property that may have contributed and there are no pending criminal charges against the hospitalized man.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will deliver updates as they become available.