UPDATE: XENIA -- Fire investigators are still trying to determine an exact cause of a house explosion on Roxbury Drive.
The State Fire Marshal, Xenia Fire Department and Vectren gas company officials remained on scene all day Monday.
Flames engulfed the house at 1636 Roxbury Drive a little after 8 a.m.
"It's a disaster, it's a lot of loss inside," neighbor Manuel Gonzalez said.
"I was shocked, when it happened, because it was so quick. In the blink of an eye, the house is gone," Gonzalez said.
Firefighters arrived to the home and battled heavy flames. Neighbors watched as huge plumes of smoke filled the sky.
"I thought, oh hell, the house is on fire. I got up and said, yep that is a real bad fire," neighbor Karen Skeeters said.
Xenia Fire Chief Kenneth Riggsby said the man living there was outside in the backyard when the explosion happened and luckily only suffered some minor burns and singed hair.
"He' s very lucky. I believe if anyone was inside the structure, it would've killed him," Riggsby said.
The chief said just before the fire a neighbor called Vectren Gas Company, smelling an odor of natural gas.
Riggsby has advice for all homeowners.
"Maintenance is the biggest thing people can do. Furnaces need to be checked every year, and water heaters inspected. All things to do to make sure you don' t have any leaks."
Earlier coverage:
XENIA -- A suspected natural gas explosion Monday morning has destroyed a Xenia home and sent a resident to the hospital.
Xenia Fire Chief Kenneth E. Riggsby said he could see the smoke from several miles away.
A neighbor has told us that he didn't hear anything until the fire trucks responded, although the initial report from first responders indicated an explosion at the home.
Riggsby said the man taken to the hospital had minor injuries, possibly from burns. He also said children live in the home but the resident said they weren't home at the time.
Vectren and Dayton Power & Light responded to the scene to check the utilities.
Earlier coverage:
Explosion, Fire Reported at Xenia Home
XENIA -- First responders are reporting a house explosion and fire with heavy smoke at a house at 1636 Roxbury Drive.
Fire officials are also calling for extra crews to respond to battle the blaze.
We'll bring you the latest on this developing story.
The State Fire Marshal, Xenia Fire Department and Vectren gas company officials remained on scene all day Monday.
Flames engulfed the house at 1636 Roxbury Drive a little after 8 a.m.
"It's a disaster, it's a lot of loss inside," neighbor Manuel Gonzalez said.
"I was shocked, when it happened, because it was so quick. In the blink of an eye, the house is gone," Gonzalez said.
Firefighters arrived to the home and battled heavy flames. Neighbors watched as huge plumes of smoke filled the sky.
"I thought, oh hell, the house is on fire. I got up and said, yep that is a real bad fire," neighbor Karen Skeeters said.
Xenia Fire Chief Kenneth Riggsby said the man living there was outside in the backyard when the explosion happened and luckily only suffered some minor burns and singed hair.
"He' s very lucky. I believe if anyone was inside the structure, it would've killed him," Riggsby said.
The chief said just before the fire a neighbor called Vectren Gas Company, smelling an odor of natural gas.
Riggsby has advice for all homeowners.
"Maintenance is the biggest thing people can do. Furnaces need to be checked every year, and water heaters inspected. All things to do to make sure you don' t have any leaks."
Earlier coverage:
XENIA -- A suspected natural gas explosion Monday morning has destroyed a Xenia home and sent a resident to the hospital.
Xenia Fire Chief Kenneth E. Riggsby said he could see the smoke from several miles away.
A neighbor has told us that he didn't hear anything until the fire trucks responded, although the initial report from first responders indicated an explosion at the home.
Riggsby said the man taken to the hospital had minor injuries, possibly from burns. He also said children live in the home but the resident said they weren't home at the time.
Vectren and Dayton Power & Light responded to the scene to check the utilities.
Earlier coverage:
Explosion, Fire Reported at Xenia Home
XENIA -- First responders are reporting a house explosion and fire with heavy smoke at a house at 1636 Roxbury Drive.
Fire officials are also calling for extra crews to respond to battle the blaze.
We'll bring you the latest on this developing story.