Kan. House Explodes, Kills 1, Hurts 3 Others

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Oct. 09--One person was killed and three others injured Sunday in an explosion and fire at a rural home about 10 miles south of Haven near the east shore of Cheney Lake.

"It scattered debris about 100 yards in every direction, so it was a pretty good explosion," Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson said.

Henderson said three people were taken to Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita, two by ambulance and one by helicopter. A fourth victim was found dead beneath the debris about 2 p.m., he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said one of the patients was in critical condition and two others in fair condition.

No identities were being released pending notification of relatives, Henderson said.

The explosion, which flattened the house at 26001 Outwest Road, was reported by neighbors shortly after noon. Three hours later a pile of rubble was still smoldering. Units from the Reno County, Haven and Pretty Prairie fire departments fought the blaze and kept a steady stream of tanker trucks delivering water to the scene.

"They had a utility, a water heater, replaced yesterday," Henderson said. "That's the only thing out of order. The Kansas State Fire Marshal is en route to investigate."

Neighbors described the house as a small two-story, two bedroom cabin. A woman lived there alone but was being visited by her daughter from Oklahoma and a friend this weekend, they said.

Charlie Davis, who lives about 150 yards southeast of the house, said he was watching football on television when the explosion shook his house.

"I ran outside and saw that the house was leveled and I ran over there and called 911 while I was running," he said.

"I saw one guy walking around with his hair burned and some blood on his face and two females came out. Their hair was burned and their skin was peeling. They said someone was still in there. They said they were lighting the hot water tank and it blew up."

Dorothy Guy, who lives across the road from Davis and also about 150 yards south of the house, said her neighbor had a new water heater installed on Saturday but she thought they said they were lighting the furnace when the explosion occurred.

Guy got to the house shortly after Davis.

"When I got there, they were laying on the ground," she said. "I was afraid the cars in the driveway were going to blow, so we got them on their feet and moved them farther away."