UPDATE: Explosion victims remain in critical condition Posted: Aug 14, 2017 11:46 PM EST Updated: Aug 15, 2017 11:17 AM EST
By Nicole Cousins
UPDATE: The two victims have been identified as Jim and Jeanne Jasa.
A CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital spokesman says they remain in critical condition after a house exploded Monday afternoon.
We bring you more information as the details are released.
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A massive explosion rocked a south Lincoln neighborhood off 77th Street and Old Cheney Road Monday afternoon, leaving neighbors in shock, and praying for victims.
"My first thought was a bomb."
"It just sounded like a huge bomb went off."
"I honestly thought a plane crashed."
The home was reduced to rubble in an apparent natural gas explosion.
The two victims inside were severely burned, suffering life threatening injuries.
"The victims apparently were a — were shot out of the home from the explosion,” neighbor Jeff Hoham said.
Hoham was one of the first on scene. His neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, administered first aid to the victims, as people emerged from their homes to see the chaos.
"[I’m] praying that they will be okay,” Jeris Oliverius, who felt and saw the explosion as she was driving home along Old Cheney said. “Obviously the scene is just unbelievable, these things just don't happen every day."
The blast was felt as far as a mile away.
It not only leveled the home, but blew out the windows of others, rocking their foundation and spewing debris throughout the neighborhood.
"Things were off the wall, there were other damage inside,” Bill Kuehn who lives less than a block away, said. “It was a really huge explosion."
Neighbors recounted the seconds it happened: First, the sound of a bomb, and then ammunition sounding -- hundreds of rounds firing off from the heat.
"It was just intense flames something I have never felt before,” Hoham said. “The heat that hit me was something I've never felt before."
Lincoln Fire and Rescue said there is no immediate danger to the neighborhood.
Black Hills Energy, Lincoln Electric System, the State Fire Marshal and Red Cross were among the dozens of crews on scene to help monitor and find the source of the explosion.
LFR Battalion Chief Jeremy Gegg said he’s thankful the casualties weren't higher.
"Certainly other bystanders could have been seriously injured or killed,” he said. “There was some large debris that was thrown a long distance."
Officials say upwards of eight homes are unlivable Monday night.
The Red Cross is locating those families who need it.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) -- Lincoln Police have confirmed 43 homes have damage following Monday's home explosion.
Of those homes, 19 have structural damage. Damage ranges from cracks to ceilings and walls to completely destroyed. Some houses had windows exploded.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue said three of the homes are currently uninhabitable.
Investigators are on scene working to determine the cause of the home explosion.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue said two people are in the hospital and a CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital Spokesperson confirmed they are in critical condition after what is believed to be a natural gas explosion, though that has not yet been confirmed.
A CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital Spokesperson has confirmed to 1011 News the victims are Jim and Jeanne Jasa.
Firefighters were initially dispatched to 5601 S. 78th Street around 4:30 pm.
LFR said firefighters found one house completely destroyed upon arriving, with debris thrown throughout the neighborhood. They said 7-8 houses were damaged by the incident, and debris was launched as far as 200 feet from the house.
"It just sounded like a bomb went off and the house shook and everything. Then I look down the street and there was just black smoke and I saw all the bricks in that house was gone just obliterated," neighbor Bill Kuehn said.
LFR said on top of the flames and debris, ammunition inside the home started exploding after crews arrived.
Jeff Hoham lives just a few doors down from the now demolished home.
He had just returned from his coaching job at Lincoln East.
When he heard what he described as the sound of a plane crash, he told his son to grab his shoes and they both ran outside when they were met by an off-duty fireman who also lives in the area.
When they arrived on scene, Hoham said they weren't prepared for what they saw.
"I've not seen people burned like that ever, so it was an image that I don't know if I can explain," Hoham said. "But I knew they were hurt and there was intense fire, and I just kept think is there anyone else and you don't think you just react."
LPD and LFR are not releasing the names of the injured people out of respect and so family members can be alerted first.
Authorities said several agencies, including the State Fire Marshal's office and a gas company, stayed on scene investigating until it became too dark.
They urged people to stay behind any barricades to stay safe and let authorities do their jobs.
LFR said they are working to mitigate the situation, but that several streets in the area will be closed for quite some time.
Authorities said several residents will need to be relocated because of the incident.
LFR had to suspend their investigation overnight due to darkness, and so far authorities have not officially declared the cause of the explosion.
Chief Fire Inspector Bill Moody did tell 10/11 that they are going to look at all digging permits for the area over the last six months in an effort to determine the cause.
Dena Hornby lives next door to where the explosion happened. She said she had no idea how bad it was until she got out of her home. "I couldn't believe what I saw. I was in awe."
Lori Feldman lives across the street from the home. She says she watched two of her neighbors leave in an ambulance, "My heart is going out to them and their family. They are such wonderful people."
