This story has been updated with additional information.
CANTON − Two men who were injured in a natural gas explosion that destroyed a house and damaged others last week remain hospitalized in the burn unit at the Akron Children’s Hospital, the Canton Fire Department said.
The department on Aug. 4 identified the men as Justin J. Bruce, 40, and Michael L. Mullins, 42. They suffered serious burns in the explosion at 1617 Bonnot Place NE on July 30.
Mullins was thrown a considerable distance across the street due to the explosion, said Canton Fire Division Chief Steven Henderson. When firefighters arrived, he screamed, “I’m sorry.”
He had told a neighbor that he had cut a gas line.
The department didn’t say where the men lived.
Henderson said Bruce despite suffering significant burn injuries walked about six minutes to the 1500 block of 15th Street NE to the home of his landlord. Firefighters, who had feared he was buried under the rubble, discovered him at the home on 15th Street more than four hours after the approximately 4 a.m. explosion. Bruce is a tenant of a property in the neighborhood, said Henderson.
According to Stark County court records, Bruce had a 13th Street NE Canton address in 2022. But by 2023, he was listed as homeless.
Mullins in 2022 was listed in court records as living in Paris Township.
Henderson said the two men were not listed as occupants of the house, which was for sale. Fire investigators are still looking into why they were at the location at the time of the explosion. He said the department is not yet ready to announce what caused the natural gas explosion nor ready to announce any charges.
“There’s a couple of thing we have to put together,” said Henderson. “We know a lot that we can’t tell (you) right now.”
Stream of onlookers visit neighborhood
The neighborhood was quiet on the afternoon of Aug. 3, other than the noise of an excavator clearing debris.
Broken glass, caution tape and pieces of homes could still be found in neighboring lawns. Several homes were empty or boarded up as the explosion damaged several houses making them unsafe for occupation.
Henderson said contractors have demolished what was left of 1617, 1621 and 1617 Bonnot Place NE. The second and third homes were knocked off their foundations by the blast, making them structurally unsound.
Resident Harry Cunningham said he has seen a “steady parade” of people coming to look at the aftermath of the explosion.
“The biggest problem here, man, is the ‘lookie looks,’ ” Cunningham said. “People coming from all over. They drive up and down both ends of that road and just sit there.
“You ain’t got nothing better to do than come look at someone else’s misfortune. If you’re going to stop and look, at least put a $5 bill on the curb for the people.”
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com.
Reach Aaron at 330-580-8428 or ahhughes@usatodayco.com. On X: @AaronHughe2.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton Fire Department IDs 2 men burned in Bonnot Place explosion
Reporting by Robert Wang and Aaron Hughes, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Wang and Aaron Hughes, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
