McPherson County, KS – Several pets died in a home explosion Wednesday in McPherson County.
Galva Fire Chief Wayne Williams says a neighbor reported the explosion just before 5 p.m. in the 1600 block of 24th Avenue, two miles north of Galva.
Williams says a propane issue in the house may have caused it, but the State Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating.
The homeowners weren’t home at the time, but three dogs, a pet pig, and several cats died. No firefighters were hurt.
When neighbors heard the explosion, they wondered if a bomb had gone off or if a nearby refinery exploded.
Fire officials say the explosion was heard about 30 miles away and shook nearby houses. One woman who lives in the area says the blast caused the power in her home to blink.
Although the family’s home is leveled, those who lived in the home are thankful this happened while they were away. Years of memories spread across the yard.
Thursday afternoon, Kimberlee Carlson dug through rubble to find what’s left.
“It’s surreal,” Carlson says. “It gives you a new perspective on what is important and what’s not. These were all material things. The important things are our pets that we had to bury today over there.”