Apparent Gas Explosion Hurts 2 at Ohio Apartments

An apparent natural gas explosion at a central Ohio apartment complex has left two men injured.

Newark fire Assistant Chief John Clouse told The Columbus Dispatch authorities believe a maintenance man was trying to re-light a furnace before the blast in the complex boiler room. Clouse says investigators are trying to learn if gas was leaking at the time.

The Advocate newspaper of Newark reports the maintenance worker was in fair condition at a Columbus hospital. A friend accompanying him in the boiler room was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

A resident of the apartments told the Advocate the explosion sounded like “a shotgun shell” or a car crash. He says it blew out the boiler room windows.