KSN camera catches Great Bend explosion early Wednesday
GREAT BEND, Kan. (KSNW) -- Emergency crews responded to an explosion in Great Bend around 3 a.m. Wednesday. It happened in the 700 block of 10th Street at a home near the Baltzell Motel.
KSN's Skyview camera caught the flames shortly after 3 a.m. See the video below.
Police said in an interview with Great Bend's KVBG radio that one man was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Wednesday afternoon, Great Bend Deputy Fire Chief Brent Smith said he arrived on the scene to find a home destroyed.
"The building that the explosion happened in was an apartment building that the hotel rented out," Smith said.
He also talked about the impact of the explosion.
"I actually live in Ellinwood, nine miles from here, and it was noted in Ellinwood. You could feel it and hear it," Smith told KSN News.
The state fire marshal's office is leading the investigation, Smith said. Kansas Gas Service crews were also at the scene.
"Anytime there is an explosion, we have got to rule out any possible cause. Of course, natural gas being one of the causes, and that is why they are here. They are the experts in that field. We rely on them to come in and do that testing for us," Smith said.
Nearby buildings are also being inspected, as some suffered damage due to the explosion. The damage included broken windows and siding due to scattered debris.
"The building to the east sustained significant damage. They have a structural engineer coming to look at that. They won't be going in that building until the engineer does his testing," Smith said. "Air Gas across the street suffered damage, the motel suffered damage. We have a crew inside the office of the hotel to determine if it is habitable or not."
Meanwhile, traffic has been reduced on the east side of U.S. Highway 56 in Great Bend.
"We just ask you to drive careful, be slow, try not to lollygag through the area and cause a wreck or something," Smith said.
The area will be cordoned off for a few more hours. Fire officials will have another update around 4 or 5 p.m.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was at the scene but will not have any official involvement.