Villa Rica and contractor responsible for gas explosion

VILLA RICA - A report by the Georgia Public Service Commission holds the city of Villa Rica and a contractor responsible for a gas explosion that destroyed a restored house in the west Georgia city. <br> <br> The house was blown off its foundation last month and burned after workers struck a natural gas line and a sewer line. The workers were in front of the house, installing a fiber optic cable toward Tanner Medical Center. <br> <br> The report says the city did not mark the sewer line. <br> <br> A two-block area was evacuated, and Atlanta Gas Light shut off the gas along the main. <br> <br> The commission has sent a consent letter to the contractor, fining the company ten-thousand dollars. Commission spokesman Bill Edge says the contractor has yet to respond to the notice. If it does not answer by January 30, the commission will hold a hearing on the case. <br> <br> Edge said the commission cannot fine the city but may send a letter saying the city also is responsible. <br> <br> The county fire department estimates damage to the house at about $300,000. <br> <br> The owners, John and Coey Wrobleski, had spent the last five years restoring the interior and exterior of the house. They were at work at the time of the explosion.