Pair Badly Burned in Propane Blast

Two people were seriously burned Sunday afternoon when propane gas leaking from a tank caused an explosion outside their travel trailer, fire officials said.

A 56-year-old woman suffered second-degree burns over 40% of her body and a 54-year-old man was burned over 25% of his body in the blast that occurred in a Pearblossom trailer park, said Capt. Jim Mabery of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The victims’ identities were not released.

The 2:10 p.m. explosion and fire in the 12700 block of Pearblossom Highway also destroyed the 30-foot trailer and a midsize car, Mabery said.

Officials believe propane leaking from one of the trailer’s four tanks was ignited by an exterior water heater. The tank exploded and blew about 40 feet from the trailer, Mabery said.

The victims were airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center, where they were listed in fair condition late Sunday. They told investigators that just before the blast, they smelled propane gas. The man was stepping outside to check the tanks when the explosion occurred.

A 66-year-old neighbor of the victims suffered minor smoke inhalation and was taken to Lancaster Community Hospital for observation.

It took firefighters about 10 minutes to extinguish the blaze, Mabery said. The destroyed car and trailer were valued at $14,000, and the contents lost were estimated at $5,000.