House Explosion Kills Three in Troy, IL

Steve Whitworth

The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.

(TNS)

Apr. 6—TROY — Law enforcement officials worked Monday at the scene of an overnight house explosion outside of Troy that killed three people.

West Kirsch Road near its intersection with Springvalley Road was blocked off by emergency vehicles Monday morning, but TV news crews and reporters gathered across the road from the scene.

Deputies from the Madison County Sheriff's Department were at the scene in the 8000 block of West Kirsch, along with firefighters from the Troy Fire Department. At least two investigators at the scene wore jackets bearing the name " FBI Evidence Response Team" on the backs.

A number of houses and outbuildings stand on the property, including an historic old school, but only the one residence, which neighbors said was being rented out, was destroyed in the blast.

Todd Mersinger, 43, lives about a quarter-mile down West Kirsch Road from the scene of the explosion. He said he was awake when the initial blast occurred just before 11:15 p.m. on Sunday.

"It shook my whole house," he said. "I heard multiple explosions."

Mersinger said a security camera on the porch of his house captured video of the explosion and fire.

He said he and his cousin, John Mersinger, who also lives on West Kirsch, jumped in a vehicle and headed for the scene, but a Troy Fire Department truck had already arrived, so they stayed out of the way of the firefighters.

A woman living in a house next door to the property said she and family members were "sound asleep" when the force of the explosion shook their home and awakened them. She said her mother-in-law was thrown to the floor by the force of the blast and injured, although their own home wasn't damaged. The injured woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of a possible broken arm.

"The flames were so bright," the next-door neighbor said. "I called 911 and gave them my address, because I didn't know the exact address there."

A news release from the Sheriff's Department said it responded to the scene at 11:14 p.m. Sunday for a call of a structure fire with people trapped in the residence. Initial reports indicated there had been an explosion. Several other area fire departments also responded.

As first responders arrived, a person was found with significant burn injuries, the release said. That person was taken to a St. Louis area hospital for medical treatment.

"A few residents were able to escape the house without injuries," the release said.

It also said firefighters found three people dead inside the residence.

Sheriff's detectives are investigating the incident along with the Madison County Coroner's Office, the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

"We do not believe there is a threat to the community at this time," the sheriff's news release said. "This is still an active investigation, and we will release additional information later."

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