Richmond neighbors describe explosion, house fire that 'shook' their street

RICHMOND, Ind. - Two people are in life-threatening condition after an explosion and fire tore through a home in Richmond on Thursday, sending neighbors jumping into action to help.




Emergency crews were called to the 100 block of Randolph Street around 8:47 a.m. After extinguishing the fire, investigators spent much of the rest of the day combing through what was left of the home. They say two adults were airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital for specialized burn treatment.




"I never expected that the house across the street had exploded," said neighbor Eric Toschlog.




Neighbors say they're still trying to make sense of what they saw, heard and felt when the blast shook the block.




"I was in bed and the whole house shook," said James Clay.




The Indiana State Fire Marshal's office has yet to determine the cause of the explosion. Richmond police described the scene as "dangerous" and "fast-moving." The injured adults were last said to be in critical condition.




"She was really bad. Well, he was too," recalled another neighbor, Charles Day. "They were burnt very, very bad."




Charles Day says he came running from down the block to help when he saw the flames and heard screaming, later treated on the scene himself.




"The guy came out and was laying in the grass," Day recalled. "The woman came out screaming. I got to her, put her hair out, laid her on the ground."




By then, he says the house was engulfed, and scorching the one next door. So, he helped evacuate a woman and two children from that neighboring home.




"Neighbors were screaming to get the neighbors out," he said. "The lady in the house to the west had two kids, so I ran in there, hollered at her, and we got the kids out."




Officials say the two children were evaluated for potential smoke inhalation - after both Day and Clay worked together and made sure everyone was safe.




"It was definitely a rough day, for sure," Clay said. "Those people just moved here, spent all their money to get out of a bad situation and come here, start over - and they just lost everything."




"I'm overwhelmed with it, I really am," Day said. "I'm glad I was able to help. You just, it kicks in - to help, adrenaline."




Richmond Police say they will continue to assist fire investigators and ensure the impacted families receive support.