House destroyed, reports of explosions

JACKSONBURG, Ohio - Police and fire crews are one the scene of a house explosion in 4200 block of Oxford Middletown Road in Butler County.

At around 9:25 a.m. Friday the one-story ranch, located just outside of Jacksonburg, Ohio in Wayne Township, exploded. The homeowners Doug and Donna Idle were away on vacation for the holiday weekend. No one else was in the home at the time of the explosion.

The Idles’ son, who does not reside in the house, received a phone call from a friend of his on the fire department, police said.

The homeowners’ daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Chloe Idle were the first family members on the scene to view the damage.

They said that they are heartbroken and can’t stop thinking about what could been if someone had been home.

Investigators said that the house uses both electric and propane for power. But it could be a while before they know what sparked the explosion.

Doug and Donna are on their way home from vacation now because of the explosion. They should be back in town this afternoon.

An investigator is on their way from fire marshal’s office in Columbus.