Cedar Rapids woman injured in house explosion

CEDAR RAPIDS — Neighbors recall hearing and feeling a blast that destroyed a Cedar Rapids home Monday and sent a woman to the hospital.

The explosion — which blew the north side off the house at 1371 20th Ave. SW — and ensuing fire took place at 6:35 p.m.

'I heard the explosion and my house kind of wavered a little bit. I thought it was fireworks, just this big boom,' said Howard Bentley, who lives on 20th Avenue SW, more than a dozen houses east of the home that exploded. 'The back of the house was fine, but the front of the house was gone.'

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department responded to a report of an explosion and 'heavy fire' Monday evening. The occupant, 64-year-old Diane Barnes, was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with severe burns.

Public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said two neighbors sprung into action after the explosion and pulled Barnes from the house.

'One shut off the gas at the meter and the other used a dry chemical fire extinguisher to knock down flames and get her out,' Buelow said in an email. 'If not for their actions, the victim likely would not have been able to get out of the fire that ensued.'

The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene. Aid was provided to the occupant and crews were able to put out the fire.

A fire investigator was called to the scene and the fire remains under investigation. Buelow said a natural gas leak is the likely cause of the explosion.