Gas company was called but responded to the wrong house just before explosion
CARMI, Ill. - Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter has released information on the explosion in town that occurred last night (Tuesday, July 18) at about 6:32 p.m.
Carter said that Carmi Police, Carmi Fire, White County Sheriff's Department and White County Ambulance were dispatched to a residential fire located at 1310 Gilpin Street. Dispatch advised responding officers that there had been some type of explosion and that two individuals had been injured.
As officers arrived on the scene they observed that a mobile home was on fire and the fire appeared to be concentrated on the west end of the residence. Officers approached a male subject, who was later identified as being an employee of Consumers Gas, and asked him if anyone was injured. He stated that there were individuals injured and then he pointed out a male and female subject that were standing to the south of their location. As officers approached the male subject, it was observed that he had suffered burns to a large portion of his body. Officers asked the male what had happened and he informed the responding officer that there was a gas leak. He stated that he had smelled gas earlier in the day and had ended up calling the gas company, but prior to their arrival there was an explosion and the house caught on fire.
Officers then spoke with the female subject and observed that she also had burns to her body. The female subject was information officers that her dog was still in the residence and was wanting to try to retrieve the dog.
Officer then spoke with Consumers Gas again; who stated that he had received a phone call from a call-out service at approximately 6:20 p.m. in reference to a gas leak, but was given an incorrect address. He stated that he spoke with the call-out service again at approximately 6:26 p.m. and was given the correct address. Upon arriving at the residence, he pulled up into the driveway of the residence and before he exited his vehicle, the house blew up. He then observed a male subject roll out of the house and then he observed a female subject come rolling out of the house.
After the Carmi Fire Department had extinguished the fire, Fire Chief Larry Hite called the State Fire Marshal's Office to investigate the fire.
The 36-year-old male and 25-year-old female were both cared for by the White County Ambulance before being airlifted to a burn center. The family dog was located and taken by a family member to an animal hospital.