A house explosion in Missouri during the Thanksgiving weekend resulted in significant damage and six injuries, with three individuals in critical condition, according to fire officials.

The Jefferson City Fire Department reported that emergency crews were dispatched to a house explosion in the eastern part of Jefferson City early Saturday. The incident was reported around 2:44 a.m., and initial assessments indicated multiple victims were affected.

Upon arrival, firefighters found six people inside the house at the time of the blast. They encountered “multiple victims with injuries ranging from moderate to severe,” according to the fire department.

Some injured individuals received urgent medical care on-site, including advanced airway techniques and the use of CyanoKits for suspected cyanide poisoning, the fire department stated.

The fire department emphasized that due to the severity of the injuries, certain patients needed additional EMS resources for stabilization during transport.

Two of the victims were taken to Jefferson City Airport and subsequently flown to University Hospital in Columbia, while the other four were transported to the hospital via ground ambulance.

Fire Chief Matt Schofield stated that three victims sustained critical injuries, as reported by the Jefferson City News Tribune. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are still ongoing.

Additionally, the Jefferson City Public Works Department assisted in the cleanup efforts by providing an excavator for debris removal throughout the day.

‘Severe Structural Damage and Significant Debris’

Images taken around 6 a.m. on Saturday revealed the house nearly destroyed, with collapsed structures and household items scattered around. Local TV footage showed the extensive destruction as snow fell on the wreckage.

The explosion, which was described as a fireball by the Jefferson City News Tribune, was felt by residents several miles away. Local emergency responders and utility workers remained on site Saturday for smoke clearance and debris management.

The rescue operations were described by the fire department as “particularly challenging due to the extensive structural collapse and significant debris,” taking hours for the Special Operations Rescue Team to retrieve all victims.

The team had to carefully tunnel through layers of debris to access the final victim, who needed intensive rescue efforts, according to the fire department.

All six individuals were safely rescued just before 6 a.m., and two pets found in the home were also saved and are now being cared for by animal control.

The emergency response involved eight units from the Jefferson City Fire Department along with several police personnel. In total, 37 fire and emergency staff were dispatched, along with nine ambulances and three medical helicopters.