Six Hutchinson fire fighters nearly lost their lives Saturday morning after a natural gas explosion destroyed an auto parts store in the southern part of the downtown.
Just before 9:30 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to the report of a gas odor at Steffens Auto Parts, located at Avenue E and Main Street.
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer said the arriving firefighters noticed gas bubbling out of the ground and went inside to investigate. Sensors on their equipment indicated the gas buildup inside the store and evacuated about 20 seconds before it exploded. Two other people inside the store had evacuated due to the strong smell.
The fire was fed through a 10-inch natural gas line.
Numerous resources responded to the incident, including Hutchinson Fire, Buhler Fire, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Reno County Sheriff's Office and Reno County Emergency Management.