MADEIRA, Ohio — One man is in serious condition after a possibly intentional explosion within a Madeira home early Wednesday morning, Madeira and Indian Hill Police Chief Stephen C. Oughterson said.
Around 1:11 a.m. firefighters responded to 6584 Apache Circle for the report of an odor of natural gas. Law enforcement was also dispatched to the address for a domestic dispute, Oughterson said.
As crews were en route to the address, the call was upgraded to a structure fire after there was an explosion within the residence, Oughterson said.
Though the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Oughterson said initial findings show that the gas leak and ignition may have been intentional.
When Madeira firefighters — as well as multiple other fire departments — arrived at the residence, they discovered the home was barely standing after an explosion within the home and one man was trapped under the rubble. Firefighters and paramedics made verbal contact with the man, Oughterson said.
"They heard screaming so they were able to find a very very small opening on the side of the house they actually saw him through sheer luck," he said.
WATCH: Body camera footage shows crew efforts after home explosion
The Urban Search and Rescue Team along with firefighters were able to rescue a man trapped inside the basement. Oughterson said crews had to remove debris, tunnel into the basement and extinguish the fire in order to get the man out of the house.
"The back side of the structure is completely blown out," Oughterson said. "There's nothing supporting the roof, there's nothing supporting the basement. So, guys had to tunnel their way in and package the patient and brought him out."
The man was transported to University Hospital and is suffering from burns and scrapes, the chief said. There were no additional victims from the explosion and fire, investigators said.
"Damage to the residence from the explosion was extreme but there was very little fire," Oughterson said in a press release.
The Hamilton County Fire Investigation Unit, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Madeira police are coordinating their investigation efforts with Duke Energy.
