Explosion Sends Couple to Hospital

A man and woman in their 60s were airlifted out of Manzanita Hills in the Julian area Tuesday night, after an explosion in their home.

"There was severe damage to a large portion of the house, and the house has been deemed uninhabitable," CalFire spokesman Mike Mohler told Ramona Patch.

There was no fire there by the time CalFire units arrived soon after 6 p.m.. Mohler said that often an explosion sucks the oxygen out of the atmosphere and puts a fire out. 

He said the man suffered severe burns and trauma from the explosion. The woman sustained severe trauma from a ceiling collapse.

The explosion occurred in the 3200 block of Salton Vista Drive at Delores Drive. Sheriff's deputies and fire investigators determined that the explosion occurred in a laundry room. Emergency personnel found a propane tank which had apparently leaked flammable vapors, which were then sparked by a pilot light or similar ignition source. The incident is under investigation.

The couple was airlifted to UCSD Medical Center.

Mohler said the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad went to the home to make sure everything was in order. He said this is usual for an event such as this. Sheriff's authorities said Wednesday that the house was deemed to be a total loss.

Neighbors around the home felt the explosion shake their houses, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Wednesday.