‘It’s like a war zone’: Neighbors react to Union County home explosion

WEDDINGTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Union County Sheriff's deputies said the two people hurt in a home explosion Sunday morning are improving and receiving the medical attention they need.

The explosion happened at a home off Steeple Chase Circle in Weddington just before 9:00 a.m.

"I was sleeping and out of nowhere I hear a 'boom' and I'm like hopping out of bed," said Ethan Kowalski, who heard the explosion. "I'm thinking it's right outside my house."

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Whether you were miles down the road or right next door, people in the Weddington area woke up to a startling explosion Sunday morning.

"You couldn't tell if it was an earthquake at first or if it's some crash," said Eric Frasier, who lives close by to the home.

The impact was so strong it blew out the windows of a few neighboring homes.

"You look across and you see this plume of dust and smoke kind of going up couple hundred feet," said Frasier. "Just something you don't see in a neighborhood. It was wild."

Frasier walked outside his door to find the home completely gutted from the inside.

"It's like a war zone," he said.

Wesley Chapel Fire crews were first on the scene and several other agencies came out to help dig through the damage.

On Sunday, the property is wrapped in yellow caution tape. Debris and personal items were scattered across the yard. Insulation coated the home like snow.

"It doesn't look like anyone would be able to survive in that," said Kowalski.

A man and a woman were inside when the explosion happened. Neighbors told Queen City News they're an older couple.

"We see them all the time because they're always in the pool and they're always playing with their grandkids," said Frasier.

First responders flew the man to Wake Forest Burn Center in Winston-Salem. The woman is recovering at a local hospital but has since been released.

"Never want to see this happen to someone's home," said Kowalski. "Very sad."

At this time, the cause of the explosion is believed to be accidental, but the investigation remains ongoing.