One injured in explosion at Lee’s Summit apartment building

A man was rushed to an area hospital after an explosion at a Lee’s Summit apartment building.

The Lee’s Summit Fire Department responded to reports of the explosion about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Jim Eden, assistant fire chief, said crews arrived to heavy smoke billowing from the 10-unit portion of the building, at 2419 S.E. Missouri 291.

Another four-unit section was also damaged by the fire, but Eden said a firewall protected most of the smaller section.

Mark Hoyle, a resident, heard the explosion.

“I heard … like a whoosh and I looked up, and the roof came 2 to 3 feet up in the air and fire was coming out,” Hoyle said.

Residents suspected the explosion and resulting blaze were caused by propane gas.

A maintenance worker in the building had been relighting the residents’ propane after they had been without the heating source for about a week and a half, Hoyle said.

The maintenance worker suffered injuries from the explosion and was transported to a hospital.

The Fire Department could not release the man’s condition because of medical confidentiality, Eden said.

He added that all of the 22 residents were evacuated.

The fire crew used an aerial hose to extinguish the fire, but damage mainly to the second floor of the building is likely irreparable, Eden said.

He added that the chance of collapse prevented any firefighters from entering the building while working to contain the fire.

Hoyle, the resident who heard the blast, knew his adjacent neighbor was not home and had a dog in her unit. He said he broke out a back window to enter the unit and rescue the Chihuahua.

The owner of the dog, Suzi Hollis, said her first thought was for her dog when she was notified of the fire.

“I hugged (Hoyle) and thanked him. He was the hero of the day,” Hollis said.

Another resident was less fortunate. Jennifer Steele said she was thankful her entire family was out of the apartment at the time of the explosion, which she was told occurred in her unit, but her dog did not survive.

“She was my son’s best friend,” Steele said.

The Red Cross is providing provisions for shelter, food and clothing for the residents of the building.

Eden expressed relief that everyone in the building had been accounted for.

“That’s the good news,” he said. “The fire is under control and … investigators will come in and try to come up with the cause.”