Case Study: 20914 TomLee Avenue

On the morning of Tuesday, August 13, an explosion occurred at a private residence located at 20914 Tomlee Avenue in Torrance. The explosion leveled this single-family home (believed to have been built in the early 1960s) and caused damage to surrounding homes. Client information indicates that the explosion and resulting fire was caused by the buildup of natural gas beneath the fully tented home. The tent was erected by a local pest-control contractor. Ellis was requested to conduct air and bulk sampling for asbestos in publicly accessed areas surrounding the explosion. We then administered the removal of hazardous materials prior re-occupancy of homes in the area.