Polk County, OK – Two Polk County residents are receiving hospital treatment after an explosion at their home early Friday.
About 1:30 a.m., Polk County deputies, Hatfield firefighters and Southwest EMS were dispatched to 105 Faith Lane in Hatfield regarding a fire that was the result of an explosion at a mobile home, according to a news release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Richard Fox, 53, and Linda Pilgrim, 55, had escaped the residence with burn injuries. Hatfield volunteer firefighters had already responded to the scene before the arrival of law-enforcement personnel. Most of the smoke and fire was coming from the west end of the home, the release states.
Both Fox and Pilgrim had gone to a neighbor’s home. Deputies found that Fox was in the living room with burns to his arms and torso. Pilgrim was seated on the couch and had more significant burns to her body, according to the release.
EMS treated the two at the scene and transported them to Mena Regional Health System. Both were later airlifted to a burn unit for treatment, said Polk County Sheriff Mike Godfrey.
Investigators believe an explosion blew off the west end of the home, sending an outside door at the structure’s south side flying.
All indications are that the explosion and fire were a result of a propane gas leak that ignited in the gas stove area of the residence, Godfrey stated.
Neighbors told investigators that Fox had been working on a propane cook stove the day before, the release states.