‘A miracle’ no one injured in home propane explosion

Disaster engulfs home but four people and two pets escape the house without injury.

MORGAN TWP. — Morgan Twp. Fire Chief J.R. Wood said it’s “a miracle” no one was injured in a propane explosion that leveled a two-story house Thursday morning.

Wood said the fire may have started in the basement of the house at 3941 Buck Ridge Drive.

He said the occupants — a father and mother, their two children and two dogs — escaped without injury after the explosion that occurred just before 6 a.m.

Robin Nowlin, 45, who lives across the street, said the home was engulfed in flames in within 2 minutes of a blast that sounded like “a cannon was going off.”

“There was a big boom and in no time flames went up on the side of the house near the garage and it just worked its way through the house,” Nowlin said.

“It was a devastating sight.”

Wood said the investigation is continuing and the property may be dug up on Monday.

Morgan Twp. firefighters were on the scene until around 3 p.m. Crews returned about 6:30 p.m. when the fire reignited.

By the time firefighters arrived — 9 minutes after they were dispatched — there was nothing they could do, said Wood, who added that the house went up like it was “gas-soaked.” One of the children in the home said his bed was blown 10 feet in the air. The boy said it felt “like an earthquake,” Wood said.

“I don’t care if we were parked down the street or if we were here for a 50-year reunion,” he said. “It would have been the same outcome.”

Matt and Lisa Breitenstein are listed as the owners of the 2,614-square-foot home valued at $236,000 built in 1991, according to the Butler County Auditor’s Office.

He said debris from the house was thrown 200 feet from the house. He said glass was seen on a neighbor’s roof and a set of French doors were found 25 feet away.

Firefighters from Reily and Crosby townships and the city of Harrison also responded. The American Red Cross was on scene, and the occupants were assisted at a neighbor’s home.

A woman who has lived on Buck Ridge Drive for about six years said the blast awoke the entire neighborhood.

The woman said she and other neighbors are amazed that other homes on the street were not affected and are thankful the family escaped unharmed.

“It’s absolutely a miracle. It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Staff Writers

Hannah Poturalski and

Eric Robinette

c

ontributed to this report.

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