Explosion at Downtown Atlanta apartment complex tied to person entering illegally, stealing copper, management company says

ATLANTA — An explosion at a Downtown Atlanta apartment complex late Tuesday night damaged a vacant building under renovation and sent one person to the hospital.

The blast, which was caused by a gas explosion at the Northside Plaza Apartments on Markham Street SW, blew off the top of one of the buildings and caused a fire that was later put out. Atlanta Fire and Rescue said that 19 families were displaced because of the explosion.

In an update on Wednesday from Integral Group, the property management company for the apartment complex, a spokesperson said they learned from investigators that the explosion was caused by a person who entered the vacant building illegally and tried to steal copper.

When an open flame was used inside the vacant unit, accumulated gas ignited and caused a majo