MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP – Two house explosions Wednesday morning injured four people, including three Mifflin Township firefighters.
The explosion happened at 987 Becky Lane, destroying the single-story ranch-style home with an attached garage. Dan and Irene Atwell lived there.
Madison Township Fire Chief Ken Justus was the first on scene.
“When I arrived, the attached garage was fully involved in fire,” he said. “I had a male occupant (Atwell) out in the front yard. He had been burned extensively.
“We initiated fire attack when the first engine arrived and also started providing EMS care to the male who had been burned, when the ambulance arrived.”
Justus said he suspects a propane cylinder caused the first explosion.
“That’s the story that I got from the occupant, that he had been working on a leaky propane cylinder when the explosion occurred,” the Madison chief said. “We’re not really sure 100% what took place, but we do suspect a propane cylinder.”
The second explosion, also in the garage, sent shrapnel “in all directions,” Justus said.
Mifflin Fire Chief Dan Markel was standing on the street when he was struck in the hand, suffering traumatic injuries, Justus said.
The other two firefighters were battling the flames when the second explosion occurred.
“One was manning the truck. A piece of shrapnel hit him at the pump handle,” Justus said. “One was on the south side of the structure on a hose line.”
Justus called for mutual aid.
Madison Township and Mansfield transported the Mifflin firefighters, while Mifflin Township transported Atwell.
Justus said Markel was flown by medical helicopter to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. He added that Mansfield transported Atwell’s wife, who did not appear to be injured, as a precaution.
Justus also called for mutual aid. Providing tankers were Madison, Monroe-Lucas, Mifflin village (Ashland County), Ashland, Washington Township and Savannah.
Victim of explosion alerted his neighbor
Rusty Cates has lived next door to the Atwells for about 40 years. He said the explosion did not wake him because of his air conditioner.
“Within minutes, Dan (Atwell) ran over to my house,” Cates said. “He is knocking like a madman on my front door. He was running on adrenaline.
“He said, ‘I had an explosion. We’ve got to get Irene out of the house.”’
His wife had made it outside.
Sue Turner also lives in the neighborhood. She said the second explosion knocked a picture off her wall.
“I heard the first boom. That woke me up,” Turner said. “I thought it was a bad accident on (U.S.) 30 or a large tree fell on my house.”
She said officials initially told neighbors they might have to evacuate because of the air quality, but that did not happen.
The state fire marshal’s office is handling the investigation.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mifflin Township house explosions injures occupant, three firefighters
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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