ATF investigating Seffner home explosion that seriously injured man and woman

Home explodes in Seffner, hospitalizing man and woman

Catherine Hawley reports

SEFFNER, Fla. - Two people have been seriously injured after a home exploded in Seffner Thursday afternoon.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to an emergency call just before 4:30 p.m. at a home near King Charles Circle and King Richard Court. The view from SkyFOX showed severe damage to the home and at least one vehicle in the garage.

A man and woman in Hillsborough County had to be hospitalized for serious injures they sustained in an explosion at a house in Seffner Thursday.

The blast happened just after 4 p.m. It was still not clear Thursday night what caused the explosion. Neighbors said it was so powerful their homes shook.

2 injured in Seffner home explosion

SkyFOX

"When I came around the corner, my mouth dropped," neighbor Michael Bristow told FOX 13 News. "We're seeing everybody running and stuff like that. And then all you see is like the pieces of the house, like everywhere, like falling apart and you see water squirting everywhere."

Witnesses say they heard the loud boom then saw a thick plume of smoke. Several of them rushed to help or call 911. That’s when neighbors realized people were inside.

House explodes in Seffner, injuring 2 (Charles Neilson)

"What I remember is the lady yelling and she's still underneath the debris. And thank God our neighbors, some of our neighbors join in trying to help, trying to get her out," Bristow said.

Half the home was reduced to rubble, with the garage door blown all the way across the street.

Bristow said some good Samaritans along with a sheriff’s deputy pulled the woman and a man from the wreckage.

"She was just hysterical and really panicking. The gentleman, however, looked like to me he sustained more injuries because he was covered in blood. And he was kind of dazed a little bit," Bristow recalled. "The house can be replaced, but lives cannot. So thank God and I pray that they'll be OK."

House explodes in Seffner, injuring 2 (Charles Neilson)

First responders rushed the pair to a hospital then began combing the scene to figure out what caused the detonation.

Neighbors said they never saw any fire, just the explosion. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, the sheriff’s office and ATF are all assisting in the investigation.