DUNWOODY, Ga. — A local family narrowly escaped with their lives when their home in Dunwoody exploded - everything they owned was lost in the 2020 fire.
But two years after that explosion, they say there is no accountability and no answers. The Itow family is trying to build new memories, reframing their neighborhood after theirs was destroyed.
"The hardest part has been the feeling that nobody cares," said Eli Itow.
The home going up in Dunwoody right now used to be theirs.
"People are going to be living here. And yet, we are still living out of duffle bags," he said.
Eli Itow said his family couldn't afford to buy a dresser to store what little they had left. They had to replace everything they owned out of pocket. So did their neighbor, Sybil Williams.
"It's sickening. It's really sickening to see this," he said. "And I haven't had anything rebuilt or restored or refurbished, and they have. It's really frustrating."
Days before Christmas 2020, the unthinkable happened, their homes at Dunwoody Apartments were destroyed by an explosion linked to a gas leak. He says they were left with nothing.
"It makes us feel so angry and helpless. This could happen to anybody," he said. "We are blue-collar. I run a mechanic shop. My wife works for Kroger. This could happen to anybody. And you hear about these fires. And I am telling you now, there is nobody looking out for you."
11Alive obtained this preliminary report from the Georgia Public Service Commission, finding Payne Drilling and Atlanta Gas Light responsible for the explosion.
Investigators recommended more than a half a million dollar fine for alleged safety violations at the scene of the explosion by Atlanta Gas Light.
Any fine imposed by the commission would go back to the state to address safety violations.
But Itow says his family should be compensated, too.
He says the utility hasn't given them a cent.
"You're just left on your own, with the hopes that you'll just go away. I can't go away. This is my life; this is my family's life," he said. "I need them to be held responsible and to do the right thing."
Eli said he's been calling the utility company daily for the last 2 years and can't get any answers.
Atlanta Gas Light declined an interview but, in a statement, told 11Alive:
"At this time, Atlanta Gas Light has not been issued any final rulings against the company by the Georgia Public Service Commission in connection with this matter. Our investigation has determined that a company unaffiliated with Atlanta Gas Light - Payne Drilling, LLC - caused the natural gas leak that led to the fire by excavating in violation of Georgia’s dig laws and damaging an Atlanta Gas Light line located near 2333 Dunwoody Crossing in the process.
Atlanta Gas Light disagrees that it violated any federal or state safety standards in connection with this event, and the PSC has not made a final determination at this time. The company does not comment on pending claims and litigation."
Since the explosion, Payne Drilling has shut down, and the former owners did not return calls for comment.
"I need people to be angry about this! Because this could happen to anybody," said Itow.
The Itow family said this couldn't be allowed to happen to anyone else. They want to build a framework of responsibility.
"I know the world isn't fair, but this is just not right," he said. "This is not right."
The Georgia Public Service Commission should make its final ruling soon.