Man seriously injured in Wauseon house explosion

Victim identified as Eric Dominique

Area firefighters hose down the basement of a home that exploded at 137 Clinton St. in Wauseon Monday.

WAUSEON — A Wauseon man seriously injured in an explosion at his house Monday apparently was cutting a propane tank apart when it blew up, authorities said.

Eric Dominique, who is in his mid-60s, was listed in serious condition at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, a hospital spokesman said today.

Wauseon Police Chief Keith Torbet said the explosion at 137 Clinton St. occurred in the basement, involving a propane tank.

Evidence recovered at the scene suggests that Mr. Dominique was cutting apart the propane tank at the time, according to a prepared statement Chief Torbet released today. Behind Mr. Dominique, windows were blown from their frames, the concrete foundation was cracked, and the porch roof was caved in, the police chief said Monday.

The blast caused minor damage to the adjacent Masonic lodge, the chief said. Mr. Dominique was airlifted to the hospital in Toledo while ambulances took two children, still unidentified, to Fulton County Health Center, Wauseon, where they were evaluated and released. Two other adults were evaluated at the scene.

The official cause of the blast remains under investigation by the state fire marshal's office.