BIRMINGHAM, Mich. The Birmingham fire chief said a natural gas leak from an appliance service line caused a house to explode May 25 in the 1300 block of Chapin Avenue near Woodward Avenue. According to the woman, when she flipped on a light she felt a rush of air and realized there had been an explosion. Its just a miracle shes doing wonderful, said Birmingham Fire Department Chief Paul Wells. On Thursday, Wells said fire officials have determined the gas leak was coming from a service line to the laundry dryer. It was a small gas leak that led to a big explosion.