Natural gas contractor hurt in explosion at southeast Cedar Rapids home

A contractor working to relocate a natural gas line at a southeast Cedar Rapids home was injured Thursday morning when the gas line suddenly exploded.

The explosion was reported at 11:17 a.m. Thursday at 3600 Skylark Lane SE. Dawn Stephens, one of the home's owners, told dispatchers she had heard an explosion outside her home, then heard a contractor calling for help.

The contractor, identified as Howard Russell, 41, an employee of Q3 Contracting of Des Moines, was taken by private vehicle to Mercy Medical Center, reportedly with burn injuries to his hands. No additional medical information was available.

Stephens was able to safely escape the home, along with her three dogs, and was not hurt. She said she saw "a ball of flames" near the back deck of her house, and firefighters saw flames outside the home when they arrived. The flames were quickly extinguished, but crews continued to spray water on the service line for nearly an hour to prevent flare-ups as MidAmerican Energy crews turned off gas service to the house.

According to a news release, fire crews did not find any indication the fire had extended inside the home, but the flames damaged siding on the back of the house, near the service line.

Q3 Contracting was relocating gas mains in the neighborhood, according to the news release. The incident remains under investigation.

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