Two Mourned After Tragic Explosion
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A home exploded Monday afternoon near Tillatoba, creating a debris field similar to a to a tornado and claimed two lives. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch reported foul play is not suspected. – Photo by Tim Little
TILLATOBA – Two fatalities were reported after a house located north of Tillatoba on County Road 272 exploded Monday evening at approximately 7:48 p.m., rattling windows for miles. Yalobusha County EMA Director Stewart Spence reported the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s office, but a propane explosion appears the likely culprit.
Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine also reported that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire, but foul play is not suspected. Gooch said two occupants were inside the home when the blast occurred.
“Our hearts go out to the family members, this is a very tragic event. Family and friends are in shock and mourning their loss,” Gooch said. “I haven’t seen anything this bad during my law enforcement career,” the sheriff added.
Yalobusha County Coroner Ronnie Stark reported that the identities of both victims will not be released until authorities receive confirmation through DNA testing.
“There were family members who came to the scene, we are reasonably confident of their identity but we need to be 100 percent sure,” Stark explained.
Spence said that Tillatoba and Oakland fire departments were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the fire. Volunteers from other fire departments in the county also responded to assist. Spence also said that with the magnitude of the explosion, there was little left of the house to extinguish.
“It was pretty much a debris field, it looked like the house had been hit by a tornado. The explosion shook the ground and was heard for miles,” Spence told the Herald. “We put out some hot spots and had it under control pretty quick. Then it turned into a recovery operation.”
Spence also said dispatchers alerted responding fire fighters that multiple occupants were believed to be inside the home when it exploded.
After the fire was extinguished, Sheriff Gooch said the scene was secured as they waited on a deputy from the state fire marshal’s office to process the scene and for Stark and deputy coroner Debbie Jackson to retrieve the victims.
Gooch also reported troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to help with traffic and crowd control. Officers with the Oakland Police Department also provided assistance.
“As with any investigation, we want to make sure the scene is carefully preserved,” Gooch added.
Spence said several additional hot spots were extinguished after the bodies were removed. Investigators and first responders remained on the scene until approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday morning and returned to the scene later Tuesday morning in the daylight to continue the investigation.
Chief Deputy Thomas West reported the explosion shook windows for miles, with people feeling the blast as far south as Scobey.
“We saw reports on Facebook where people thought it was an earthquake, it was a very strong blast,” West added.
Joyce Doubleday, one of the closest neighbors to the house reported her entire home shook.
“My cabinets opened and stuff was falling over. I was scared to death, I thought someone had dropped a bomb,” Doubleday said.
Doubleday also said a lady and her grandson lived in the house.
“He was in a wheelchair and she helped take care of him,” Doubleday said.
