The cause of Saturday night’s home explosion on Oneonta’s West End has been ruled accidental. Emergency crews responded to the two-story home at 18 Richards Avenue and found a blast scene and several neighboring homes damaged. Sheriff Richard Devlin issued a statement that said only that the blast was caused by human error. He did not elaborate and has not responded to calls for explanation. 60 year old Desmond Moan, who lived at the home, was killed.
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Because of the blast, Oneonta Town Supervisor Randall Mowers declared a local state of emergency, promoting an evacuation of more than 30 nearby homes. Town Hall was opened on Sunday in an effort to organize relief efforts for nearby affected homes. Residents were not allowed to return to their homes on their own and were only allowed to take essentials with them n their way out. ANyone who needs temporary housing should call 607-547-5351.