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.

Remnants of a travel trailer in Salem following an apparent propane explosion. (kgw.com photo/Salem Fire Dept.)

“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.

Firefighter examines charred debris following a trailer explosion in Salem. (kgw.com photo/Salem Fire Dept.)

“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.