Homeowner injured in explosion, third occurrence in seven years

KNOXVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A house explosion that injured the homeowner was the third such blast on the property in seven years, investigators said Friday.

Homeowner Eric Walter had second- and third-degree burns on 70 percent of his body, said Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla. A spokeswoman at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh would not comment on his condition Friday.

Walter, his girlfriend and four of his children had just arrived home Thursday night when a teenage son told Walter he smelled gas. Walter sent the woman and the children out of the house and up a hill to call 911, and the house exploded about 10:15 p.m., Abdalla said.

It was unclear what Walter was doing or whether he was near the house at the time. The woman and children were not hurt.

Emergency responders told WTOV-TV the initial blast was followed by 10 more explosions from what they believe were ammunition and fuel inside the home.

Walter rebuilt his home after previous fires, Abdalla said.

Explosions destroyed his houses along County Road 56 in 2001 and 2003, and a third blast and fire in 2006 damaged the house and attached garage, Abdalla said.

The cause of a house explosion in 2003 was undetermined, though the family had reported a propane leak before the fire occurred.