KMBC – September 10, 2013
A De Soto man is recovering from burns after an incident inside his home that has fire investigators puzzled.
Gordon McDowell, 74, was inside his bathroom when a flash fire appeared and engulfed him. He was rushed to the burn unit at the University of Kansas Hospital. Investigators said he has burns up and down one side of his body.
“He said that he heard a hissing noise. After the hissing, he heard a gurgling, like a straw in the water. That’s when he saw the blue flame flash,” said Greg McDowell, the victim’s son.
Investigators said they’re not sure what happened. There was very little damage to the inside of McDowell’s house, so they are looking into the possibility of a chemical reaction. They said they don’t think it’s linked to water main problems that prompted a boil-water order in De Soto Monday.
The Northwest Johnson County Fire District has called the Overland Park Fire Department to help figure out what caused the fire.
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