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Salem propane explosion injures elderly couple

04:51 PM PST on Wednesday, January 14, 2004

By ANTONIA GIEDWOYN and JIM PARKER, kgw.com Staff

SALEM -- Two elderly residents were injured in an apparent propane explosion and small fire in a travel trailer in Salem Wednesday afternoon, fire officials said.

The victims, a 63-year old woman and a 70-year old man, were hospitalized for burns. Their names were not immediately released.

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Remnants of a travel trailer in Salem following an apparent propane explosion. (kgw.com photo/Salem Fire Dept.)
Paramedics said the pair were in stable condition at Salem Hospital, but did not elaborate on the extent of their injuries.

“The trailer was totally demolished…it blew out the wall in a shed behind the trailer,” said Bill Holmstrom, spokesman for the Salem Fire Department.

It was unclear whether the couple were in or near the trailer when the explosion occured about 1:15 p.m., Holmstrom said.

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Firefighter examines charred debris following a trailer explosion in Salem. (kgw.com photo/Salem Fire Dept.)
The trailer was located behind a house in the 4100 block of Duane Drive South; fire crews said debris littered the area up to 100 feet away from the trailer.

“A portion of the house siding blew off but there was no real damage to the house,” said Holmstrom. Total damage was estimated at $6,000.

Investigators believe the explosion was probably caused by the malfunction of a propane heating unit inside the trailer.

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