Rochester Fire Chief Willie Jackson says the main natural gas pipe in the house that blew up Wednesday 
night had been “compromised….”and he says they’re investigating the explosion as “suspicious.”
13 WHAM said it had learned the house had just been foreclosed on and sold to a new owner.
In an update, Chief Jackson said the man found dead in the house has not been positively identified yet….although they have an idea of who he was. He did not want to say if the explosion was deliberately caused.
The house at 64 Illinois Street exploded just as firefighters arrived about 7:30 Wednesday night. They were called in by RG&E crews who were investigating reports of a natural gas smell in the area and became concerned.
The remains of the house have been demolished and the site will be cleared after investigators finish collecting evidence.