Valier Woman Lights a Candle; House Blows Up

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[An explosion at a home on Rea Street in Valier early Tuesday completely blew out a wall, and the resulting fire was so hot it melted the siding on a house 100 feet away across the street.

Firefighters from three Southern Illinois fire departments remained at the scene of the 4:30 a.m. explosion until almost noon. The brick frame of the fireplace at the Bobby an Suzanne Johnson home was the only thing left standing.

State Fire Marshal's office investigator David Bandera said his early investigation indicates that Mrs. Johnson awoke early to get ready for a doctor's appointment in St. Louis.

She lit a candle in the kitchen. Apparently natural gas that had built up from a leak or an open valve exploded.

She received major burns, was taken to Franklin Hospital and transferred to a burn center in S. Louis.

Her husband, who was in a bedroom in the front of the home, escaped serious injury. He was bruised while attempting to help his wife and evacuate the house.

Bandera said there was a stove, water heater and washer and dryer all in the same vicinity.

The fire spread quickly and burned through the floors of the home, collapsing everything onto the ground.

Investigators taped off everything. Ameren had nearly a dozen service men and its own investigator at the scene. The crew apparently dug up and shut off the gas line where it connects to the main to make sure there were no further issues

Sesser, Valier and Coello firefighters responded.

Valier is located immediately north of Christopher in Franklin County.