A massive explosion Monday in a neighborhood near Blackjack in St. Louis County destroyed at least five homes, damaged more than 20 others and sent several residents to the hospital. Investigators have ruled out criminal behavior in the incident that occurred around 9:15 a.m. involving a three-alarm fire alert.

The multi-house explosion was most likely a natural gas explosion,” St. Louis County Police Chief Col. Kenneth Gregory said during a news conference, adding: “There’s still more work to be done to determine that for sure.”

Gregory quashed rumors that the blast was the result of a neighborhood meth lab insisting that investigators with the regional bomb and arson squad ruled that and the possibility of fireworks being a cause.

Several people were transported to the Mercy Hospital’

See Full Page