Teenage boy dies, five remain hospitalized after Saturday house explosion

RAGLEY, La. (KLFY) — A house explosion in Beauregard Parish last weekend killed a 16-year-old boy and sent a family of five to the hospital, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office.

Beauregard Fire District No. 2 responded just before 10 a.m. Saturday to a report of a residential explosion in the 1100 block of Pullin Road in Ragley. Firefighters arrived to find a large debris field, fire and several injured victims.

A 16-year-old boy did not survive and the surviving victims all remain hospitalized, officials said. They include a 42-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman who are the married homeowners as well as their 2-year-old boy. A 37-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter, who are relatives of the couple, were also in the home. The 16-year-old was the son of the 37-year-old.

State Fire Marshal investigators have determined the explosion was most likely fueled by a propane leak.

SFM investigators said the house was newly constructed. The day of the explosion, the family, with help from the relatives, was in the process of moving in, State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams said.

“This continues to be a devastating experience for this family and a terrifying one for the community, but we remain committed to getting answers for everyone in an effort to not only understand what led to this tragedy but to try to prevent it for other families in the future,” Adams said.

At this time, the investigation into the source of the propane and the source of the ignition are still ongoing.

When it comes to propane safety, much like natural gas, propane has a rotten-egg odor to help users identify when the gas is potentially leaking, officials said. If you suspect a gas leak of any kind during any type of use, immediately leave the building or area and call 911.