House Explosion in Taunton Leaves Mother and Child Seriously Injured

Natural gas leak blamed for blast that damaged multiple homes

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A house explosion in Taunton, Massachusetts has left a mother and her 2-year-old child with potentially life-threatening burns. Firefighters say the blast was caused by a natural gas leak, though the exact location and ignition source remain under investigation.

Why it matters

House explosions due to gas leaks are a serious public safety concern, as they can cause catastrophic damage and injuries. This incident highlights the need for robust gas infrastructure monitoring and safety protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The details

The explosion occurred around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26th, 2026, damaging two homes on Plain Street in Taunton. Tenant Jacinda Jones, who lived next door, described hearing a loud blast that shattered her living room window. When she looked outside, she saw the home engulfed in flames. Inside was her friend Lucitha Blanc and Blanc's 2-year-old daughter Jenelle, both of whom suffered life-threatening burns. Firefighters determined the cause was a natural gas leak, though the exact location and ignition source remain under investigation.

  • The explosion occurred around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26th, 2026.
  • Eversource crews were on the scene on Thursday assessing the property and digging through the rubble.

The players

Lucitha Blanc

A 25-year-old resident of the home that exploded, who suffered life-threatening burns along with her 2-year-old daughter Jenelle.

Jacinda Jones

A tenant living in the home next door to the exploded house, who described hearing the blast and seeing the home engulfed in flames.

Taunton Fire Department

The fire department that responded to the explosion and determined the cause was a natural gas leak, though the exact location and ignition source remain under investigation.

Eversource

The utility company that had crews on the scene on Thursday assessing the property and digging through the rubble.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I can just say, you will never know until you are actually in the situation, but it's fight or flight. My son and my partner were in the living room sitting on the couch when we just heard an explosion and our living room window burst open and glass flew.”

— Jacinda Jones, Tenant (cbsnews.com)

“We moved the blind back, and we instantly just saw the house was engulfed in flames and smoke. As soon as you walked into the dining room, you felt the heat. You knew we couldn't last one more second inside there.”

— Jacinda Jones, Tenant (cbsnews.com)

“The last thing I heard yesterday is that they were both doing OK. Hopefully, I will learn some more later.”

— Jacinda Jones, Tenant (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Investigators are still working to determine the exact location and cause of the natural gas leak that led to the explosion. Eversource crews will continue assessing the damage and making repairs to the gas infrastructure in the area.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining safe and reliable natural gas infrastructure to prevent catastrophic events like this. It also highlights the need for robust emergency response protocols and community support systems to assist victims and their families in the aftermath of such disasters.