Demolition work began on Monday at the site of Steffens Auto Parts , the local business that was destroyed by a natural gas explosion earlier this year.
Owner Darrin Clifford told Hutch Post that while the clean-up brings some relief, the road ahead is still uncertain. “I’m still dealing with the insurance, but this is a step forward,” Clifford said. He added that no plans have been determined yet for what will come next for the property.
Steffens Auto Parts was devastated by an explosion on Feb. 22, which investigators say was caused by a leak at a girth weld on a natural gas line. The blast leveled the business and left behind questions that will take time to resolve as Clifford works through the recovery process.
For now, the demolition clears away the visible reminder of the tragedy, but the future of the site — and the business — remains to be seen.