In the quiet suburb of Maplewood Drive, life moved at an easy pace — kids on bikes, neighbors waving hello, sprinklers hissing in the summer sun. But one sunny afternoon, a decades-old septic tank hidden under the Johnsons’ front lawn turned that peace upside down.

For years, the tank had gone unnoticed and unmaintained. Odd smells, gurgling pipes — little warning signs — were brushed off as “old plumbing.” What no one realized was that methane gas was quietly building inside, and the tank’s structure was weakening.

Around 2:15 p.m., a sharp crack came from the ground. Seconds later — BOOM. The Johnsons’ front yard exploded in a shower of dirt, concrete, and dust. A crater six feet deep gaped where the tank had been. Miraculously, no one was hurt.

Firefighters arrived, calling it “a miracle” no one had been standing over the spot. The blast shook the whole neighborhood — and the community’s sense of safety. Many rushed to book inspections for their own septic systems.

Experts later explained that without regular pumping and ventilation, gases can build until a single spark or pressure change sets off a dangerous rupture.

For the Johnsons, the scare was life-changing. Their children lost sleep, and Mrs. Johnson kept replaying the moment in her head. They now connect to the municipal sewer system — a costly but safer choice — and share their story to warn others.

The grass eventually grew back, but the faint mark in the lawn is a reminder: the most dangerous things are often the ones you can’t see.

Lesson learned: if you’ve got something buried under your home — be it septic tank, wiring, or gas lines — check it before it checks you.