CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — A blast in the basement of a home has sent a man to the hospital with severe burns.
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 2:00 Tuesday afternoon to the 13000 block of N. Ivy Lake Rd. in Chillicothe on reports of a natural gas explosion. The caller reported the home’s basement was on fire.
Authorities learned two workers from a heating and cooling company were installing a new furnace, which exploded as they were lighting the pilot light.
One of the two workers, a 21-year-old male, sustained injuries bad enough to earn a transport to OSF Medical Center. The other worker was outside at the time and was unharmed.
The two residents of the home were upstairs and made it outside unscathed.
Dunlap and Chillicothe Fire Departments responded and reported the home was a total loss.
Ameren later clarified the fire was caused by propane, and not natural gas.
