Service Station Explosion Claims the Life of a Smithland Man - News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.com

Service Station Explosion Claims the Life of a Smithland Man

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By: Scott Larson
slarson@kcautv.com

An explosion rocked the Bob Jones Service Station in Smithland, IA around 11:30 Wednesday morning. Not only did it take the owner's life, but it took an incredible effort from local firefighters to put the resulting fire out. Homer DeWitt of Sioux City arrived just after the initial blast and heard a sequence of other explosions from within the garage. "A whole lot of explosions from inside the building. Could have been gas or propane tanks, but whatever they were, it was a lot of serious ones." Homer went on to say, "I saw smoke coming out of the walk–in door...I tried to raise somebody in the house close here and I couldn't. By that time some other people had stopped and the fire was really getting out of control."

The explosion triggered a massive fire and clamed the life of Bob Jones. Smithland Fire Chief Curt Larson says, "The building was fully engulfed (when we arrived) and we saw one fatality. We took offensive measures on the fire here."

At least 10 fire trucks from Oto, Sloan, Salix, and other communities converged at the station to help. Firefighters used axes and chainsaws to put the fire out – but it wasn't an easy task – it took over two hours to calm the flames. While the flames were extinguished, the building is likely beyond repair.

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