CHICAGO (STMW) – Nobody was injured when a vacant house being rehabbed partially collapsed during a possible gas explosion Saturday evening on the South Side.

Firefighters responded at 4:49 p.m. to a reported house explosion at 640 E. 87th Place and found a small fire and partial collapse, Fire Media Affairs Cmdr. Sean Flynn said.

The one-story house was vacant, but the owner had been doing rehab work on the building, Flynn said. Nobody was inside the home when it exploded and nobody was injured.

Firefighters did not have serious problems with the fire damaging neighboring buildings and it doesn’t appear anybody will be displaced, Flynn said.

The fire department initiated a still-and-box alarm and Level 1 hazardous materials response for extra manpower. The scene was secured by 5:15 p.m., the fire department said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation Saturday night, but initial reports indicate a “possible gas explosion,” Flynn said. People’s Gas remained on the scene investigating Saturday evening.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)