Six people hurt after home explosion in Jefferson City early Saturday morning
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Six people were hurt after a house exploded on St. Louis Road in Jefferson City at around 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning, according to Jefferson City Fire Chief Matt Bowden.
According to Cole County EMS Chief Eric Hoy, a total of six people were in the house at the time of the explosion. Two people were airlifted to University Hospital and the other four were taken by ambulance. Three of the victims are listed in critical condition and received critical life support. The other three have moderate injuries and are stable, according to Hoy.
According to a release, EMS crews provided critical care intervention for multiple victims and administered CyanoKits.
"This will be an ongoing operation throughout the day as the fire department continues to extinguish hot spots, and de-layer the debris pile," Hoy said. "So we will have crews here on scene just for safety and in case there are any other needs."
ABC 17 News at the scene saw smoke billowing into the air. Firefighters were seen putting out a fire on the property and searching through debris. Debris was scattered in neighboring yards and all over the road. The Ameren excavator was digging in the front of the home.
Rescue operations were not easy for first responders due to the home collapsing and the amount of debris from the explosion, according to the release. The fire department's Special Operations Rescue Team tunneled through layers of debris to find the last victim.
All the victims were freed from the rubble at 5:52 a.m. A total of 37 EMS and fire personnel; were on the scene, nine life support ambulances, three Chief Officers, three medical helicopters and an excavator provided by Jefferson City Public Works, according to the release. Mutual aid was provided by Osage, Callaway, Mid-Mo Ambulance Districts, MU Air Medical, Mercy LifeLine and AirEvac Lifeteam.
ABC 17 News crews on the scene saw five Cole County EMS ambulances, two Cole County EMS vehicles, a Jefferson City Police vehicle, three Jefferson City Fire Department engines, two JCFD vehicles, an excavator and a crew with Ameren in the 2400 block of St. Louis Rd. at around 4:10 a.m.
One person was seen being put into an ambulance.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
