A home near the scene of last week’s deadly natural gas explosion on Arthurs Woods Drive in Bel Air, has been demolished because of severe damage from the blast, and security has been reinstated at the entrance to the neighborhood after break-ins were reported at damaged homes, according to Harford County officials.

Nine homes in the neighborhood — including 2300 Arthurs Woods Drive, where the explosion occurred, and 2302 Arthurs Woods Drive, which was partially destroyed — have been deemed unsafe and uninhabitable by county officials.

Demolition of 2302 Arthurs Woods Drive began Monday after the homeowner’s insurance company and the county agreed it should be razed due to severe structural damage, said Harold Boling, deputy director of the county Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.

The other seven homes in the neighborhood that were deemed unsafe must submit letters of assessment to the county from structural engineers, licensed master electricians and licensed gas fitters before their utilities can be restored.

“The homes do not have utilities [because] we believe there is structural damage that would make the home unsafe,” Boling said. “If we … are satisfied they meet our requirements, we will go back to BGE and have them release the utilities.”

Originally, 12 homes in the neighborhood were judged unsafe after the blast, which killed a BGE contractor at work and the homeowner. Five of the homes were reinspected and cleared for occupancy, according to County Executive Bob Cassilly.

Utilities were restored at every other home in the neighborhood shortly after the blast.

If the assessments discover issues barring the restoration of utilities, the homeowners’ insurance companies will be notified of needed repairs. Insurance companies will then decide to either repair the homes or demolish them. All repairs and demolition would be paid for by each homeowner’s insurance company, Boling said.

The demolition of a home has begun after an explosion in a neighboring home killed two people and damaged several other homes in Bel Air last week along Arthurs Woods Drive. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)

The insurance company for the home at 2300 Arthurs Woods Drive is conducting an investigation into the blast. The site is walled off by a fence with debris still scattered throughout the lot. While the insurance company’s investigation continues, a contractor will be clearing debris behind the home and from a nearby sediment pond.

The site of the explosion will not be cleared of debris until after the insurance company has completed its investigation, which Boling said should happen by the end of this week.

The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the explosion days after the incident. The NTSB completed its on-scene investigation last week but said its broader investigation is ongoing and that a preliminary report will be available within 30 days.

The preliminary report will not contain the probable cause of the blast. NTSB officials stated that the probable cause will be in the final report, which will be available in 12 to 24 months.

After the blast, private security personnel were posted at the entrance to the neighborhood. They only allowed residents of the neighborhood to enter and required all visitors to be escorted by officials working at the scene.

Cassilly said that security has been reinstated due to reported break-ins at homes that are boarded up and visitors “gawking” at the damage.

The demolition of a home has begun after an explosion in a neighboring home killed two people and damaged several other homes in Bel Air last week along Arthurs Woods Drive. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)