UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Union County home explosion that injured two people earlier this month was accidental, investigators determined.
Multiple crews responded to a reported explosion at a home on Steeple Chase Circle in Weddington on Nov. 17. The explosion was felt countywide, with deputies feeling the shockwaves at the Union County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Monroe, officials said.
On Monday, the Union County Fire Marshal's Office determined the blast was caused by a fuel-air explosion, which is an explosion that mixes fuel with oxygen in the air to create a massive blast. Investigators determined the blast originated in the garage of the home. Three potential sources of fuel have been identified, but investigators say it's unclear which of those triggered the blast.
“The blast came into our house. It felt like it lifted the house up some and set it back down," neighbor Ted Castano said. "I was in the den. My son was in the bathroom. He was, fortunately, kind of, protected by the bathroom ... I spent a year and Iraq and have been in an [Improvised Explosive Device] blast before. It felt kind of similar.”
An elderly couple was inside the house when it exploded. A man who was flown to the Wake Forest Baptist Hospital burn center in critical condition remains hospitalized. A woman who was also home was taken to a local hospital with injuries that weren't life-threatening.
“We extend our gratitude to the numerous agencies that collaborated with us throughout this investigation,” Fire Marshal Jon Williams said. “From first responders to specialized investigators, the teamwork displayed underscores our collective commitment to ensuring public safety.”