SAN ANTONIO – A man is being treated at a hospital for burns he suffered when his Southwest Side apartment exploded late Wednesday night.
San Antonio firefighters say he told them he lit a cigarette while cooking, then noticed a blue flame and felt the explosion.
When firefighters arrived in the 1700 block of W. Mayfield, they say there was very little fire, a sign that gas was involved.
Neighbors also reported smelling a strong odor of gas.
One woman told KSAT 12 News she got out of her bed around 11 p.m. due to the smell.
She says moments later, the explosion sent her flying across her room.
The woman says she ran outside her home and saw her next door neighbor with burns all over his body.
He was rushed to a hospital for treatment.
Others in the building, meanwhile, were evacuated from their homes.
More than six hours later, they were still sitting outside with their belongings in bags.
They told KSAT 12 News they were waiting for volunteers with the American Red Cross to show up and provide assistance.
Crews with CPS Energy spent most of the night making some sort of repairs to their equipment outside the building.
The explosion blew out an entire back wall of the apartment, leaving a gaping hole.
Fire and arson investigators are still trying to figure out exactly what caused the explosion.