Officials said two people were taken to hospitals in the San Antonio area. There’s no evidence of criminal wrongdoing at this point.
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas — A house explosion and fire in southern Gillespie County sent two people to the hospital on Wednesday morning, according to the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials say emergency crews were called around 8:30 a.m. to the reported blast near Serenity Lane in The Overlook at Bear Creek subdivision, located about nine miles south of Fredericksburg off U.S. Highway 87.
According to the sheriff’s office, firefighters arrived to find the two-story home fully engulfed in flames. Two people found at the scene were identified and taken to hospitals in the San Antonio area by air and ground ambulance; their conditions were not immediately released.
At this point, investigators in Gillespie County believe the blast may have been caused by a propane gas leak.
“The home is equipped with both propane and electric utilities, with gas lines running throughout the structure,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release. “Currently, the source of the propane leak remains undetermined.”
Investigators added that a power outage from Tuesday night may have affected appliances or pilot lights, resulting in propane gas accumulating over the course of several hours.
Authorities said there were no major road closures connected to the incident, but the public was asked to avoid the subdivision to allow emergency crews access to the area. It’s believed the explosion happened when one of the residents tried using their stove.
The extreme heat from the blast also caused ammunition in the home to discharge. Authorities say there’s no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Fredericksburg Fire and EMS, the Alamo Springs VFD, Comfort VFD and Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office.
“The sheriff’s office, along with fire investigators, will continue to process the scene in the coming days to determine the exact cause and contributing factors,” the press release from Gillespie County officials stated. “The Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office extends its support to the affected family as they navigate this difficult situation.”