MEADE COUNTY, Ky. — Four people were injured, including two children, after a home explosion in Meade County Thursday.
A family member tells WHAS11 one of the children in the home at the time, an 8-year-old girl is still being treated at Norton Children's with several injuries. Her grandma and a 21-year-old male who were also in the home at the time are both currently in University of Louisville Hospital burn unit. The fourth person who was inside the home, an 11-year-old boy, has been released from the hospital.
The family considers the 21-year-old to be a hero, thankfully getting everyone out of the home in time.
Officials said crews responded to a house explosion at the intersection in the 900 block of Old Ekron Road near Happy Ridge Road around 11:58 a.m. Thursday.
"Very shocking. We don't hear this in Meade County," neighbor Khristina Larison said.
Brandenburg Police Chief Brian Haag said there were four people inside the home at the time of the explosion, supposedly sleeping. He said it's a miracle they were alive.
"Basically, yes. This could've totally been different circumstances when we arrived," Chief Haag said.
"It's sad. Makes you scared," Larison said.
They were alert and conscious in the yard when police got there. One adult and child were airlifted to University hospital in Louisville. The other adult and child were taken by ambulance. Chief Haag said one child was later transported to Norton Children's.
"You could tell where the hair and different things from the explosion were burned of that nature. Basically they had a lot of burns," Haag said.
With natural gas in the area, LG&E crews worked to contain the gas line as investigators waited until it was safe to go inside the home.
"The home is a complete loss. It blew out both ends of the home, the windows," Haag said.
"It makes me very nervous," Larison said. "I don't know what we could do to see how we can prevent it from here or my neighbor next door."
Police said the home was a rental, with the tenants only living there since April. One home was next door but, at the time, it didn't appear to have any damage.
"I've never seen this type of magnitude ever," Larison said. "It's very scary to me when it's like right next door."
Brandenburg police, Meade County Fire, ATF, and the Fire Marshal's office will all be investigating the cause of the explosion.
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