Moundridge, KS – MOUNDRIDGE, Kan. — Emergency crews believe a propane gas leak is to blame for an explosion that leveled a house in McPherson County.
The explosion happened Wednesday night on the southeast side of Moundridge.
“It’s just a mess there’s nothing left,” Alan Neufeld said after looking at the damage.
Neufeld walking around the flattened grounds on Thursday where his parents called home for around 40 years.
“We’re standing here in the front yard the parking area was here to my left,” said Neufeld.
Neufeld lives not too far away from the property his parents sold around a year ago. He says his wife heard the explosion.
“She called me and said ‘I think something hit the house and there was a big explosion,'” said Neufeld.
Neufeld came straight to the home on the 900 block of E. Hoch St. He took pictures that show smoke coming from the home. He came back on Thursday to get a closer look. The single story home was gutted from the basement up and debris scattered hundreds of yards from the explosion.
“It’s kind of a sad day really,” said Neufeld. “Who would’ve expected this to happen? It’s one thing to have my parents move off of the place, the next level is seeing all the devastation here.”
When firefighters arrived, Moundridge Fire Captain Jeremy Johnson says the odor led them right to the cause.
“The first crew in smelled a strong propane odor,” said Johnson. “There is a propane tank to the southeast of here that feeds the home.”
This is far from the first Kansas house to explode from a propane or natural gas leak. Johnson says homeowners need to be aware of the smell to prevent this from happening.
“Contact your local propane company or city or county that’s feeding you gas,” said Johnson. “Just be alert.”
While the home is a total loss, Neufeld is thankful no people or pets were inside.
“This could have been a disaster I don’t know how anyone could have survived this,” he said.