Updated 5:30 a.m. Monday:
An update regarding an explosion in northern Riley County KMAN first reported Saturday evening. Riley County Fire Chief Pat Collins reported the call came in about 3:41 Saturday afternoon, with an explosion and structure fire at 20621 Ober Rd. in Northern Riley County. The icy road conditions caused considerable
delay for fire and first responders.
When the first truck arrived the gun shop building was destroyed and spread over most of the homestead. The contents of the gun shop were burning and live ammo was
going off as it was consumed by the fire. The main house which was over 220 feet away had almost all the windows blown out.
The owner Kenneth Specht was taken to Randolph by private vehicle where they met the ambulance from Riley County EMS and first responders. Six Riley county stations including Mayday, Peach Grove, Swede Creek, Randolph, Leonardville and Riley were called to assist and around 28 volunteer firefighters.
With the assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s office the cause was determined to be a propane leak ignited by a light switch. Crews cleared the scene at around 6:30 p.m. Saturday Friends and neighbors.
Earlier report:
A man and dog were injured in a building explosion in northern Riley County on Saturday afternoon according to Riley County Fire Chief Pat Collins.
Ken Specht was reportedly checking a furnace in a shop building located at 2217 Ober Road when there was an explosion.
The blast destroyed the building and blew windows out of a house located 100 feet away when Specht opened the door to the building, which housed several firearms.
Around 20 Riley County Fire and EMS workers were on scene at approximately 3:40 p.m., and Specht was transported to Via Christi Hospital.
K-MAN will bring you the latest updates as the story develops.
