Millwood home explosion sends mother, daughter to Louisville hospitals

A mother and daughter were flown to Louisville hospitals after a Millwood home explosion in Grayson County, Kentucky.

Sheriff Norman Chaffins said the explosion happened at about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday on Crawford Street in Millwood, which is about 80 miles southwest of Louisville.

An official said called the explosion “low-level,” and said a mechanical failure in a propane furnace caused a leak after it had been refilled around 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Millwood home explosion:
Down street, ‘our house just shook’

A.J. Scanlon’s mother, Angela Young, was seriously burned in the explosion. Scanlon lives just down the street.

“Our house just shook. You didn’t hear anything. It just shook, and that was the shockwave, and we didn’t know what that was at first,” Scanlon said. “So, I texted my mom: ‘Is everything OK?’ I got no response. About five minutes later, a neighbor over here said the house is blown up.”

The only thing left standing of the house was the charred frame. The front door was blown off – with a child’s backpack hanging on the door handle – and the roof was on the ground.

“It’s a very odd bunch of emotions,” Scanlon said. “Growing up on a farm, you learn to be tough. So, it’s not much sadness, more of a mix of anger and unknowing.”

Millwood home explosion:
Second- and third-degree burns

Young suffered burns over her entire body, and Scanlon said her clothing was completely burned off. She is in the University of Louisville Hospital’s burn unit, where she is expected to remain for months. In addition, Scanlon said his mother will be sedated for weeks to avoid the pain of her second- and third-degree burns.

Scanlon’s 7-year-old sister, Johanna, sustained burns over numerous parts of her body, including her back and arm. He said she soon could be released from Norton Children’s Hospital to continue her recovery with family.

Millwood home explosion:
Victims were leaving house

The two victims reportedly were leaving the house when the blast occurred.

“One of the first things that came to mind was, ‘Oh crap. Where’s my mom?’ I got out of the car, cursing, ‘Where’s my mom?’ ” Scanlon said. “She was over at the neighbor’s house, and she was burnt all over her body. Her hands were peeling. Her hair was gone.

“It’s sad to look at. Especially in terms of, I lived here, my mom could have been inside. She’s lucky to be alive right now. Same thing with my little sister.”

Millwood home explosion: Angela Young and her daughter Johanna were flown to Louisville hospitals Wednesday night after their home exploded in Grayson County, Kentucky. Angela Young is in serious condition in the University of Louisville Hospital’s burn unit with second- and third-degree burns all over her body.

Millwood home explosion:
‘It went boom,’ says neighbor

Gordon Johnson, a neighbor, told Louisville’s WAVE 3 News, “It went boom.”

“The little girl, she’d come over every day in the summertime and get a Popsicle,” Johnson said. “I’d give her a Popsicle. Every evening, she comes and gets one.”