MANCHESTER, Ohio
--
The Ohio state fire marshal is investigating the deaths of two men killed in an explosion in Adams County.
The explosion occurred at 12:49 p.m. at Affordable Towing on the 500 block of East Second Street.
The victims were identified as Tony Morgan, 37, who owned the shop, and his father, Ronnie Morgan, 58. Tony Morgan is the father-in-law of Manchester's police chief, Randy Walter.
Walter said all he could do was focus on his job when he arrived at the scene.
"This is my father-in-law's business, and I know he should be at the business working," Walter said. "Not real easy but somebody has to do it. Gives you a little more drive when it's one of your own."
Walter said that Tony Morgan apparently had gotten some gas in his eyes and had gone to his dad for help.
"My dad was helping him get the gas out of his eyes, and the fumes rose up and got them. They said it was a flash fire," Lee Morgan said. Lee is Tony's brother and Ronnie's son.
"I'm just numb right now -- hasn't even hit me," Morgan said.
Investigators said gasoline fumes were ignited by a wood stove. The blast caused a flash fire that the men could not escape.
Firefighters said when they arrived at the business there were still explosions going off inside. The fire was contained to the garage.
The fire was ruled accidental.
East Second Street was shut down for several hours as investigators tried to determine how the accident happened.
Firefighters said there have been 27 fire-related deaths in Ohio since Jan. 1, 2010. There were 149 fire deaths in 2009.
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