15 Injured in Des Plaines Condo Explosion on Harding Avenue

Unsafe Premises - May 13, 2026

Investigation Underway After Condo Explosion in Des Plaines Leaves 15 Injured and Three Critically Injured

DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS (May 13, 2027) – At least 15 people were injured in a Des Plaines explosion at an apartment complex at 1279 Harding Avenue.

Des Plaines officials are saying that the collision occurred around 1:00 a.m. on May 6. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the condo after getting reports of a fire at the building.

Video from the scene showed firefighters on ladders trying control the spread of the fire. A number of people had to be rescued from their balconies.

In total, 15 people were injured in the fire. Of those victims, 8 were taken to local hospitals. Three of the victims were listed in critical condition.

It took firefighters roughly 4 1/2 hours to eventually put out the fire. It remains unclear what may have contributed to the blast.

A full investigation into the explosion remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Des Plaines Condo Explosions

Property owners in Illinois have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. This necessitates that they abide by all fire and building codes. If a property owner has actual or constructive notice of a dangerous condition on their premises, they must take action. Failing to take action could form the basis of a liability claim. There are a number of steps the property owners should take to prevent explosions.

  • Alarms: Property owners should install fuel and gas alarms in appropriate areas. These can help detect the presence of a leak so that it can be addressed before gas buildup becomes dangerous.
  • Fuel Storage: Any flammable fuels inside of a condo building should be stored in a secure location.
  • Electrical Systems: Property owner should ensure that all of their electrical systems are regularly inspected and well maintained.

Depending on these specific facts of any case, there could be several sources of liability for any gas explosion. This includes any contractors who may have done work at a condo building. It is possible that contractors failed to address major hazards that contributed to an explosion. In particular, contractors may have ruptured a gas line that exploded. A product manufacturer could also potentially be liable for an explosion if a product malfunctioned and created the ignition source that triggered a blast.

Steps to Take After Des Plaines Condo Explosions

Gas leaks remain one of the leading causes of residential explosions. According to WBTV, “since 2010 there have been more than 2,700 gas leak incidents across the country that were considered significant, and that 362 of those incidents resulted in explosions. Additionally, those incidents have injured nearly 700 people and killed more than 140.” A number of actions should be taken after any explosion and a condo or other residential property.

  • Explosion Source: The source of the explosion should be investigated and determined. Ultimately, the cause of the explosion will help determine what parties could be liable.
  • Medical Records: All of the medical records related to a person’s injuries should be sought.
  • Building Records: The maintenance records at the building where the explosion took place should be reviewed. In many cases, explosions are preceded by numerous safety violations.
  • Independent Review: Victims should seek an independent review of the incident by a team experienced in negligence claims.

Explosions can result in devastating injuries that impact every part of a person’s life. In many cases, victims are left with painful burn injuries and may need extensive surgeries. They may also need to take extensive periods of time away from work. To make matters worse, condo owners will almost never take responsibility if one of their tenants is injured in an explosion. However, accident victims are able to seek some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.

Investigating Des Plaines Condo Explosions

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Des Plaines condo explosion. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. Any person with more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies can be averted.

Have you or someone you care about been injured in a Des Plaines residential explosion? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced premises liability attorneys is here to support you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.