DETROIT - Part of the roof and some walls were blown off a vacant Detroit house following what appears to be a natural gas explosion.

Fire officials say Monday afternoon's explosion and fire also damaged an adjacent vacant house.

Officials were investigating whether the natural gas connection had been shut off at the house where the explosion occurred.

Neighbors tell investigators that vandals recently had been inside the house, stripping it of wires, metal pipes and anything else of value.

DTE Energy Co. spokesman Alejandro Bodipo-Memba says the utility was helping fire officials investigate the blast.

There were no reports of injuries.

Related
WDIV: Two Detroit Houses Catch Fire After Explosion

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.