Mother, Infant Son Suffer Life-Threatening Injuries After House Explosion

A woman and her 8-month old son are fighting for their lives after a house explosion Saturday.

While Rogers County authorities investigate the scene, the community has already sprung into action to support the victims.

Howard Mayberry lives just a few houses down and felt the blast. Mayberry said the explosion felt like a car hitting his home, only to find his neighbor's home covered in flames.

"I really thought someone had run into the side of it. It knocked pictures off the wall," Mayberry said. "I stuck my head out and heard a lady screaming and I made my way toward the fire.”

Authorities believe the explosion was caused by a gas or propane leak. Rogers County deputies and multiple fire departments battled the fire into the afternoon.

"You could only imagine the emotional trauma that they have experienced as have first responders that came on the scene,” Mayberry said.

Rogers County Sheriff's Office Major Coy Jenkins said people nearby smelled gas leaking since Friday night.

"I would say that this doesn't happen as often as you might think,” Jenkins said. “This is a very unusual situation, but when it happens, it can be catastrophic.”

The 28-year-old mother and baby suffered severe burns and were flown to area hospitals by two separate helicopters.

"I think the takeaway on this is to not necessarily try to spend a lot of time thinking about what happened but what we now, as a community, can do to support these two victims," Jenkins added. 

The woman and child's conditions have not been updated as of Saturday night. Authorities have not released the victims’ names at this time.