This information is preliminary and subject to change.
Release Date 21 May 2026
On April 21, 2026, about 6:04 p.m., a natural gas–fueled explosion and fire damaged a single-family residence at 15066 Preston Hollow Drive (first accident home) in San Antonio, Texas, seriously injuring three residents.[1] The San Antonio Fire Department responded about 6:09 p.m. and extinguished the fire immediately. CPS Energy, which provided natural gas and electricity to the neighborhood, reached the scene about 6:32 p.m.[2] About 8:25 p.m., while emergency response activities continued, another natural gas–fueled explosion and fire destroyed a single-family residence at 15058 Preston Hollow Drive (second accident home) about 65 feet south of the first accident home, seriously injuring two residents.[3] The explosion also injured a CPS Energy employee who was responding to the explosion and fire. The San Antonio Fire Department extinguished the fire about 11:59 p.m. The residents of both accident homes were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The CPS Energy employee was taken to a care facility for evaluation where he was treated and released. At the time of the explosions, the weather was rainy with winds of 6 mph; the temperature was 63°F.
The gas distribution system on Preston Hollow Drive included a 2-inch diameter high-density polyethylene underground gas main and 1-inch diameter polyethylene service lines.[4] The gas main and service lines had been installed in 1993. The distribution system was operating about 9 pounds per square inch gauge at the time of both the explosions; the maximum allowable operating pressure was 33 pounds per square inch gauge.[5]
About 6:50 p.m. on the day of the explosions, a CPS Energy employee surveyed and conducted bar hole testing in the area near the accident home and located a leak in the service line to 15062 Preston Hollow Drive (a single-family residence located between the two accident homes).[6] CPS Energy isolated the leak and then disconnected and plugged the service line on April 22, about 1:40 a.m.[7]
The leaking section of the service line and a section of the gas main were removed and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory for further evaluation.
On April 22 and 23, when NTSB investigators were on scene, CPS Energy conducted bar hole testing. These tests confirmed the presence of gas in the ground near the accident homes and the residence at 15062 Preston Hollow Drive (located between the two accident homes). CPS Energy performed pressure testing of the remaining gas main and service line to the first accident home. These tests found no additional leaks. CPS Energy also marked underground utilities at the accident site.
All aspects of the explosions remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause with the intent to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents.
Parties to the investigation include:
- the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,
- the Texas Railroad Commission,
- the San Antonio Fire Department, and
- CPS Energy.
[1] All times in this report are local.
[2] CPS Energy is a natural gas and electricity provider in the San Antonio region. CPS Energy is governed by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees and owned by the City of San Antonio.
[3] The second accident home did not have gas service.
[4] A
gas main is a natural gas distribution pipeline that serves as a common supply for more than one service line.
Service lines transport gas to customers.
[5]
Pounds per square inch gauge is the pressure measurement obtained by using a conventional pressure gauge.
[6]
Bar hole testing is a gas measurement technique in which a small hole is made in the ground (a bar hole) and a gas measurement probe is inserted in the hole to obtain the gas concentration measurement in the ground.
[7] CPS Energy plugged the service line by inserting an expandable rubber plug to fill the inner diameter of the service line and stop the flow of gas.
