UPDATE: Man flown to burn center after Marion County house explosion

MONONGAH, W.Va (WDTV) - UPDATE (9/8 at 10:30 a.m.): Mayor of Monongah John ‘JohnBoy’ Palmer issued a statement on Facebook Tuesday morning regarding the house explosion.

In the statement, Palmer identified the man who suffered severe burns in the explosion as Stephen and shared a GoFundMe page set up to benefit him.

According to the GoFundMe and reports from family, Stephen Overstreet was ejected from the home and life-flighted to UPMC Mercy Burn Center in Pittsburgh with burns on 30% of his body.

Family also mentioned that one of Overstreet’s cats was ejected out of the home but survived with burnt fur and a broken bone and is currently at a veterinarian’s office.

“On behalf of the Town of Monongah, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the explosion that occurred yesterday,” Palmer’s statement reads. “Our hearts are with those who were injured, their families and loved ones, and everyone affected by this frightening incident. We are praying for their recovery and for everyone impacted. We are also incredibly grateful for the firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, utility crews, first responders and everyone else who responded to the scene. Moments like this remind us just how important our first responders are and how quickly our communities come together when our neighbors need help.”

The GoFundMe page can be found here. Family members also said Overstreet wears a 32/30 in pants, men’s medium shirts and a size 8 in shoes.

The Monongah Fire Department also released more information Tuesday afternoon.

Fire officials say they responded to the home on Wine Drive at approximately 10 p.m. and found a heavily collapsed structure, scattered debris and a large fire involving the rubble.

Overstreet was not initially located at the home but was found shortly afterward at a neighboring home with burns on both arms and both legs and was flown to the UPMC Mercy Burn Center.

Officials said debris from the explosion was thrown several feet from the residence, causing minor damage to a nearby vehicle and that the home is a total loss.

The Monongah Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Valley, Worthington, Farmington and Shinnston fire departments, West Virginia State Police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The Spelter and Boothsville fire departments also helped handle additional calls and establish a landing zone, officials said.

The explosion and fire remain under investigation by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 1-800-233-FIRE.

UPDATE (9/8 at 9 a.m.): One person was injured in a house explosion Monday night and taken to a burn center in Pennsylvania, officials said.

The West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office is headed to the scene of the explosion this morning to investigate.

ORIGINAL: Multiple emergency crews were called to the scene of a house explosion in Monongah on Monday night.

According to the Marion County 911 call log, crews were alerted to an explosion and structure fire on Wine Drive at approximately 10:12 p.m.

5 News reached out for more information. However, officials were not able to provide further details at this time. Updates will be provided as they are released.