Homeowner charged in connection with deadly house explosion in Whitehorse a year ago

A Whitehorse homeowner has been charged in connection with an explosion last year that destroyed his home and killed a man in a neighbouring house.

RCMPsaid in a news release on Tuesday that Timothy Preston was charged last Thursday under the territory's Gas Burning Devices Act, related to installation permits for a heating system.

The explosion on Nov. 14, 2023,levelled a homeon Bates Crescent in Whitehorse's Riverdale neighbourhood, scattering debris and causing damage toother neighbouring homes.

David Gould, 77,was killedwhen his home next door to the blast was damaged.

Police also said at the time that aresident of the house that exploded was seriously injured.

Within days of the incident, RCMP said they had opened a criminal investigation.

Tuesday's news release said police conducted a "highly complex and technical investigation into the explosion," over the last year with help from "multiple" agencies from outside the territory.

Preston faces two charges under theGas Burning Devices Act, including installingor altering"an appliance, house piping, a vent or a gas installation" without a permit authorizing the work, as well as using any of those without a permit and without approval by an inspector.

The maximum penalty for an offenceunder the act is a $2,000 fine, up to six months in prison, or both.

Preston is due to appear in court on Jan. 7.

"This matter is now before the courts and no further information will be provided," reads the RCMP release.