TODAY'S TMJ4

Wauwatosa Home Explosion Investigation Continues

By Katie DeLong & Tom Murray

WAUWATOSA - The investigation continues into what caused a deadly home explosion Saturday. Fire department officials said Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died after her home filled with gas and ignited when it hit a furnace or water heater pilot light in the basement. Residents contend there were gas problems in the home before the explosion. Fire department officials said they are looking into these statements. “Most of the indications of prior concerns we’ve gotten second-hand. We would need to know. We’d like to talk to people that may have smelled gas prior to the incident,” said Wauwatosa Fire Chief Dean Redman. Experts hired by the company that insured the home will investigate. Redman said he believes the neighborhood is safe but there are people who live there who fear this could happen again.