Sedona, AZ – One person had to be airlifted to the Arizona Burn Center following a fire caused by a liquid propane gas explosion at a popular Oak Creek Canyon inn Friday.
According to a press release, Sedona Fire District responded to a report of a structure fire at about 10:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18 in the 9000 block of North State Route 89A located in Oak Creek Canyon, which is the location of the Butterfly Garden Inn property. It occurred in a building that housed a kitchen and various employee facilities.
The fire was out by the time fire crews arrived.
An air ambulance transported one person to the Arizona Burn Center in Maricopa County to be treated for burn injuries. SFD ground ambulance took a second person to Sedona Emergency Center as a precaution.
The preliminary investigation indicated the fire was caused by a liquid propane gas explosion in the building, which was not connected to the Butterfly Inn’s main lodge or any of the guest cabins. The leaking propane tank, which was separate from the rest of the inn’s propane systems, was shut down immediately after the explosion.
The building is expected to be a total loss.
Sedona Fire District crews are still working to stabilize the building so they can make entry and determined what caused the explosion. The investigation is ongoing.