Somerset house explosion preventable?

SOMERSET, Mass., (WPRI) - Target 12 has learned the gas lines in a Somerset neighborhood recently rocked by an explosion were installed before 1971, when regulations required pipes to be coated to minimize corrosion.

Residents say, in the past year, the nieghborhood has suddenly, been riddled with gas leaks. John Doucette lives just down the street from the scene of Thursday's house explosion. He says he ran outside after the blast.

Tim White asks,"Did you know right away what happened?"
John Doucette responds "I had a good idea, yeah."
Tim White: Why's that?
John Doucette: Because of whats happened here.

Six months ago, Douccette smelt and overwhelming smell of natural gas. When he walked outside he says, "With the water, the street was bubbling and all that."

He says after about a month, the gas company finally came out and dug up the road. Doucette says he saw it with his own eyes:A corroded gas pipe buried beneath the street.

Tim White asks, "So the lines were so old, they just corroded away?"
John Doucette responds, "Correct."
Tim White: Do you think thats what happened up there?
John Doucette: Without a doubt

On Friday, Eyewitness News cameras found a New England Gas crew working a few blocks away. The head of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities tells the Target 12 Investigators that the gas lines were installed in the early 60s, but says its too early to say if a corrosion caused the blast.

Ron Haggard lives nearby and says there's not much mystery to yesterdays tragedy.

"Why would they be digging every corner up here and patching and replacing it?," says Haggard.

Tim white asks, "Are you worried?"

"Yes, now that we see this, definitely, definitely," says Haggard.

Timothy Shevlin from the Department of Utilities confirmed that the gas main outside the home that exploded was not coated. But says it's too early to draw conclusions.

New England Gas released a statement that reads in part:

"NEGC extends its deepest sympathies to the families affected by this accident. Negc is working with state and local authorities in their investigation and to safely restore gas service to the area."