Joel brings more than 20 years experience to WPDE NewsChannel 15.
North Myrtle Beach investigators point to a liquid propane gas leak as the cause of Sunday night's explosion at Ford's Fuel and Propane on Old Highway 17.
According to the North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue Division, the team investigating the incident, the explosion has been traced back to a gas stove located in the break room of the facility.
Officials say the stove was a 1970s model manufactured prior to a safety feature that is currently required on such stoves that prevents continued gas flow if the pilot light goes out.
Modern gas ranges have electronic ignition systems instead of pilot lights, so appliance repair experts say there's little chance of an explosion from any gas stove that's been built since the early 1990's.
The owners of Ford's Fuel have told the city they plan to rebuild.
