Fire consumes a one-room cabin on Raccoon Lake after a propane heater explodes while being lit causing severe burns to one and minor burns to a second person. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Two people sustained burn injuries when a propane wall heater in the process of being lighted at a cabin on Raccoon Lake exploded.
Centralia Fire Chief John Lynch says the resulting fire at 1904 Shook Lane burned down the one-room cabin with an enclosed porch.
The resident attempting to light the heater, Wilson Gorman, received severe burns to his arms. After initially being taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, he was transferred by medical helicopter to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.
Gorman’s friend LaDonna Wynn was on her way out of the cabin after telling Gorman she smelled gas when the explosion occurred and blew her the rest of the way outside. She sustained minor burns and was being treated at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital.
The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to assist in the investigation on what caused the explosion. Firemen believe Gorman had turned on the propane outside and by the time he got back inside to light the heater, enough gas had escaped causing the explosion.
Lynch says the entire cabin was on fire upon their arrival. All available Centralia City Firemen were called in to help fight the fire. Odin Fire was called for mutual aid to help with a water shuttle to the fire scene since there are no hydrants in that area.
The fire call came in at 9:13 Friday morning. Firemen were on the scene until around 11:30 am.
Centralia City Firefighters battle fire that destroyed cabin on Shook Lane on Raccoon Lake Friday morning. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
Centralia Firemen work to extinguish flames from a fire at a cabin on Raccoon Lake set off by a propane heater explosion. Photo by Tim Ferguson.
