Harrison County, OH – HARRISON COUNTY, Ohio
A Harrison County family has lost everything after its house exploded Sunday afternoon in Scio.
Neighbors gazed in shock at the leveled home at 422 West Main St. Scio, Jewett and Bowerston firefighters cleared wood panels and other debris after responding to the call about 11:45 a.m.
“I was sitting on my porch reading a book. One minute that house was there and the next minute it was gone and (turned in to) a big ball of orange flame,” said Pat Galbraith, who lives across the street. “I felt the percussion hit me, and it blew me out from my chair. I must have went into shock because I couldn’t breathe.”
Scio firefighters were nearby at a barbecue event in the firehouse when the explosion occurred. Parts of the house flew across the street into neighbors’ yards. Many said they heard and felt a boom from miles away.
“The first thought I had was, ‘My God, if anybody was in there, they’re gone.’ That really upset me that my neighbor’s home was gone in that instant,” said Galbraith.
One family jumped in to help crews by handing out cases of water to firefighters and directing traffic. Amanda Heitzenrater-Ellenberger said her family lost its home nearby in a fire two weeks ago.
“We might not get along, and we all might fight, like all small communities do. But in the end, when something like this happens, we all pull together and you don’t ask questions. You don’t ask for anything in return,” said Heitzenrater-Ellenberger.
Gas officials said the gas to the house was supposed to be turned off a month ago but later found it was still on. That’s a factor firefighters said they are looking into when it comes to the investigation. The homeowner said his house was running as usual, and he wasn’t aware of the gas issue. The homeowner said he is just trying to process what happened, and his family had left home in the morning for church and then got a call about the explosion.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office will continue investigating through the days and nights to find a cause.