Onawa Man Injured in House Explosion
Officials Say Burglar Tried to Steal Copper Propane Line
POSTED: 9:50 am CDT August 29, 2007
ONAWA, Iowa -- Western Iowa officials said an Onawa man suffered burns
in a house explosion.
Earl Thelander, 80, was injured Tuesday afternoon in the blast that
happened in the basement of a vacant house he owns in rural Onawa.
According to the Monona County Sheriff's Office, Thelander had just
plugged in a fan to help vent fumes from a propane line that had been
cut on a furnace during a burglary. Officials said someone broke into
the house and took copper waterlines and then tried to take the copper
propane line.
After the explosion, Thelander drove to his home. He was taken to
a hospital in Onawa, and then to a hospital in Omaha, Neb.
Copyright © 2007 KETV Omaha
