Nebraska House Explosion Kills One Person, Two Others Hospitalized In Blast (Possibly Butane)

TheOmahaChannel ^ | June 20, 2002

[Shermy]

HOLMESVILLE, Neb. -- One woman is dead and two remain in critical condition after a house exploded Wednesday night in the tiny southeast Nebraska community of Holmesville.

Jack Malicky with the State Fire Marshal's office said investigators are looking at a buried 1,000-gallon butane tank and they are trying to determine what was in it.

Investigators the tank may have been leaking. Officers think someone thought the smell was rotten food coming from the basement. "It was suggested that somebody light a candle or incense to take care of the smell," said Ken Winters of the State Fire Marshal's office.

Doris Ropers, 76, died in the blast. Her daughter, Diana, owns the home. Diana, her 28-year-old daughter, son-in-law and 3-year-old grandson were also injured.

"I've never been near a war zone, but that must be what a bomb sounds like," said Beverly Boyers who lives across the street.

Flying debris broke windows in Boyers' house. "There was this tremendous explosion it opened up my cupboards and my dishes fell on to the floor," Boyers said.

Boyers and her husband ran outside. He was able to help pull several people from the rubble. However, he could get to Ropers.

"(He) actually had a hold of her shoulders, but he couldn't get her out. There was too much rubble on top and then there was this big fireball started," Boyers said.

The explosion happened about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"It was suggested that somebody light a candle or incense to take care of the smell," said Ken Winters of the State Fire Marshal's office.

Darwin Award nominee?

[Shermy]

Ping for another Nebraska explosion.

[JRandomFreeper]

We had one here in Dallas country a while back that was natural gas. It literally leveled the house.

Some people need to be reminded that if they smell gas, not to turn on or off lights, open the windows, and go away from the scene before calling 911. Sheesh.

/john

[Ken H]

"It was suggested that somebody light a candle or incense to cover up the smell"

I don't want to judge until all the facts are in, but my intial impression is that that was an unwise suggestion.

[eureka!]

Nicely understated. The gas is made to smell for a reason. Unfortunately, the smell is much like rotten eggs, a smell commonly associated with, uh, I think we all know.....

[IronJack]

Yow! I always thought it was IOWA that blows!

[Catspaw]

I once saw a house that blew in a propane tank explosion in a small town near Ladysmith WI. There was nothing left but a few splinters--pieces much smaller than this tank explosion. The houses on each side were heavily damaged and the house across the street was moved off its foundation. It looked like a very small tornado took aim on this specific place.

[JRandomFreeper]

If we smell gas, we evacuate and call. In this area, the gas lines are about 25 years old, and when they fail, the gas tends to follow the pipe into the house.

The problem is with people that say, "Give me your lighter, I think we have a gas leak."

/john

[Catspaw]

Unfortunately, the smell is much like rotten eggs, a smell commonly associated with, uh, I think we all know.....

Hillary's black pantsuit, Ol' Crusty?

That was so easy....I feel sooo cheap.