MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – Five people were left injured after a house explosion overnight Monday morning in State Park Place.
According to a spokesperson for the State Park Fire Department, the explosion took place a little after 1:15 a.m. on the 3300 block of Fairmont Avenue, located in unincorporated Madison County.
The explosion had already leveled the home when crews arrived on the scene. Five people, ranging from teenagers to adults, were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment after the explosion, suffering from severe but not life-threatening injuries, including burns.
According to the spokesperson, there initially was a language barrier during the initial emergency call, which led to some confusion about the situation. However, it became clear that an explosion had occurred once authorities arrived at the scene.
In addition to the house being destroyed, two vehicles in the driveway of the house also caught fire from the explosion. Fire crews are actively working to shut off a gas leak that resulted from the explosion.
According to the spokesperson, a cause for the explosion has not yet been determined and it is unknown where exactly the explosion took place. There was a home next door to the house that exploded, but the home did not sustain serious damage.
An investigation into the explosion is ongoing.
