Methane Gas Suspected in Iowa Burger King Fire

May 22, 2009

Insurance investigators suspect methane gas may have caused a fire and explosion that damaged a Burger King restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last month.

No one was injured in the April 24 blast, which shattered dining room windows and blew out the front door.

Perry Beaton is president of Beaton Inc., a Cedar Rapids restaurant chain that owns the restaurant. He received the report from Continental Western Insurance.

Beaton says a natural gas leak had been suspected.

Methane gas is often found in sewers, underground mines, and landfills.

Beaton says the company plans to rebuild the restaurant.

Information from: The Gazette, www.gazetteonline.com/