FOLSOM, Calif. — A Folsom community suffered damages Monday afternoon when a blast from a new home development and construction site in the Folsom Plan Area sent debris flying.
Members of the Russell Ranch community said they fear for their safety after the explosion performed by Neil’s Controlled Blasting, an excavating contractor based in Newcastle. The project developer is Elliot Homes.
“...Someone could've been really badly injured or even died,” said resident Patricio Pace, who lives along Prairie Gold Circle. “We all have kids in this neighborhood. People are out and about at all hours of the day, and we want to make sure the community's safe first and foremost before any activity resumes."
Pace said for the past few weeks, blasts resonate from the nearby development. Usually, they occur two to three times a week with a few seconds of rumble, he said.
“This one sounded extremely different,” Pace said. “It was like a very loud bang. It sounded like something had slammed into my wall.”
Rocks littered the community, according to residents. Pace said he found a rock behind his home, mere feet away from his family pool. He has reportedly used a drone to help neighbors assess damages by taking images from above.
“Rocks fell in front of the house and on the top of the roof,” said Karuna Pochampalli, who lives along View Ter Court. “Some fell in our neighbor's home. It even fell in front of the garage and in one of our neighbor's homes. There's a hole on the top of their roof as well.”
An ABC10 reporter witnessed another large rock, which had broken through the roof of the Russell Ranch Community Clubhouse and caused extensive damage to bathroom stalls.
Pace said neighbors have already expressed concerns about cracks they’ve found in their stucco, which he alleged could be from the seismic activity at the development.
“I think that is something that should be paid for either by the subcontractor or the builder,” he said. “They should be doing damage assessments for the entire area that was affected, not just the ones that have obvious damage (because) we don't know what really was damaged.”
Elliott Homes did not provide comment to ABC10 and directed media inquiries to Neil’s Controlled Blasting.
“The investigation is currently ongoing,” the excavating company said in a statement. “We presently do not have sufficient information to respond to any inquiries. Our insurance company is contacting all affected homeowners.”
Residents affected are encouraged to contact Neil’s Controlled Blasting’s Lancer Insurance claims adjuster Mary Stevenson by phone at 360-256-8731 ext. 4206, or by email at mstevenson@lancerinsurance.com with any further questions, the company said.
The city of Folsom said it is aware of the incident and echoed it is under investigation.
“The contractor is instructed to cease and desist until a full assessment can be made and an updated operations and safety plan is reviewed and approved,” said Christine Brainerd, a city spokeswoman. “The private developer is reaching out and coordinating with the affected property owners to assess and address damages.”
Residents affected by blast damage can contact Neil’s Controlled Blasting’s Lancer Insurance claims adjuster Mary Stevenson by phone at 360-256-8731 ext. 4206, or by email at mstevenson@lancerinsurance.com with any further questions.
