DANNY TINDELL / DOTHAN EAGLE Firefighters work the scene of an explosion on Roberts Street in Headland Thursday morning.
Updated: 1:04 pm, Fri Jun 3, 2016.
Lance Griffin
News reporter
Posted on Jun 3, 2016
by Lance Griffin
HEADLAND – The long road to recovery began Friday for a man severely injured during a large explosion in this small Henry County town.
Headland Police Chief Mark Jones said Spencer Wells underwent skin grafts at an Atlanta burn center Friday. Wells suffered severe burns over almost 60 percent of his body when an explosion leveled a residence just before 6 a.m. Thursday morning. Jones said the explosion did significant damage to two nearby businesses and that the force of the explosion threw debris as far as three blocks away.
“We want to extend our prayers to the family of Mr. Wells as he begins his recovery,” Jones said during a Friday press conference.
Jones said Wells is employed at Goldfinger’s in Dothan and plays in a Christian music band.
Jones said Headland Police continue to investigate the cause of the Thursday explosion. He did say Wells was preparing a bagel before leaving work Thursday morning when the explosion happened, and that his close proximity to the ignition point of the explosion probably saved his life.
“The impact of the explosion is actually more significant when you are not as close to the actual ignition point,” Jones said.
Jones said Wells was initially transported to Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, before being airlifted to a burn center in Atlanta.
Jones said gas had been disconnected from the home at some point between 2009 and 2011 and that electricity appeared to be the only source of power for the home. He could not, however, rule out that gas contained in an old line could have somehow ignited.
“We don’t want to assume anything,” Jones said. “We can’t rule out a gas explosion. We see CSI on television and everything is solved in 45 minutes. We wish we could give you all the answers. But, we will work non-stop until we have those answers.
“We do not suspect foul play,” Jones added.
Jones said there is no timetable for the completion of the investigation.
A nearby Hot Dog shop was severely damaged as well. Jones said two people were inside the shop at the time of the explosion, but were not injured.
Jones thanked the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office, Dothan Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Abbeville Police Department, Dothan Bomb Squad, Dothan Fire Department, Dothan Arson Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Headland Fire and Police departments, Henry County Sheriff’s Auxiliary, American Red Cross and Headland National Bank for assistance in response to the explosion.