Water Heater Installation Eyed In NC ConAgra Plant Blast

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A federal safety agency says the natural gas blamed for the fatal explosion at a North Carolina Slim Jim factory was likely vented into the building during a water heater installation.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigator Don Holmstrom said Thursday a contractor adding the heater to the Conagra Inc. plant likely purged the gas line by venting natural gas inside the building. The report says the explosion that killed three people followed the venting.

Last week, another federal agency also said natural gas was to blame for the explosion.

Holmstrom said the board had interviewed about 120 people as it probed the June 9 blast near Raleigh.

It still hasn’t been determined what ignited the gas.