BRADENTON – Reports of a gas leak came in as early 11 o’clock Thursday morning and soon after officials say an explosion occurred at the house behind me, sending two to the hospital with severe burns.
“What happened here was negligence,” said Francisca Lopez.
Fire Marshall Cedar Hammock Fire Marshall Eric Center told SNN while fire fighters were on scene in the 2900 block of 9th St. W. a large explosion was heard.
Francisca Lopez was at home with her husband Adrian Lopez and her son when they smelled a strong gas odor.
Lopez then noticed their neighbors across the street being asked by fire officials to evacuate their home. But she says they however, were never told to leave theirs.
“No, no one said anything,” said Lopez. “They passed by the house and my husband asked them and you know what they said nothing.”
What Lopez remembers next she says is a sight she’ll never forget. Her husband and son 23-year-old Adrian Jr. reentered the house after the family joined neighbors and evacuated from their home.
“I don’t even know how it happened,” she said. “All I can tell you is from the ground up an explosion occurred and then the roof caved in.
As the father and son were walking out of the house an explosion near the home blowing the roof off, severely burning the two men. “When my husband and my son reappeared, I saw them burned,” said Lopez.
Crews quickly to put out the flames and transported Adrian and his son to Blake Medical Center with unknown injuries.
Their daughter Karina Lopez was at work at the time of the explosion. She says they’ve yet to hear or receive an update on the status of her father and brother.
“They haven’t told us anything we’re waiting to hear from them it’s been about an hour and we’re still waiting to hear from them,” said Karina. “We just want to know if they’re okay at least.”
Lopez is demanding answers as to why officials never warned them of the gas leak in the area that could’ve prevent this incident from happening.
In addition to the two occupants inside the house at the time of the explosion. One firefighter sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Manatee Memorial Hospital.
Officials have not released an update on how the father or son or doing or how badly they were hurt.
