Kansas home leveled in natural gas leak explosion when teen turned on stove

A 19-year-old Garden City man is still recovering in a Wichita hospital after a Saturday home explosion caused by a natural gas leak that ignited when he turned on the stove, officials and family said Tuesday.

“Totally gone,” Garden City Fire Department spokesperson Erin Stillwagon said when asked about the home. “Definitely a tragic situation.”

Emiliano “Milo” Urbina was home alone when he turned on the stove, sparking the explosion that damaged nearby homes, sent debris flying around the neighborhood and knocked down a power line.

“My understanding is that he turned on the stove,” Stillwagon said. “I don’t think he had a chance to cook.”

Urbina was pulled from the debris by a neighbor, who said the teen was conscious and asking for help when they found him. EMS took him to St. Catherine Hospital before he was transferred to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis on Sunday.

“The issue was isolated to the gas line inside the home,” the Garden City Fire Department said in a news release.

Urbina was in stable condition on Tuesday, his aunt, Maureena Enriquez, said in a message. She said he has second-degree burns to his arms and right foot and a third-degree burn on his back. He also had pins put in his left foot Monday to hold a break in place.

She said doctors are still evaluating if he will need a skin graft.

Urbina and his three sisters, all younger, live at the home with their grandfather. First responders were called about the explosion at 7:11 p.m. Saturday.

Urbina graduated from Garden City High School in 2023 and plans to attend Garden City Community College in the fall, she said.

“He is a kind, polite and big-hearted kid,” Enriquez said in a message Tuesday afternoon while she cleaned up debris from the explosion. “We are very very grateful for all the first responders, the city of Garden City and neighbors and community that helped my nephew.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with medical costs and rebuilding the home. It can be found at shorturl.at/YkA4s.

“The road to healing will be long and challenging, both emotionally and financially. We are reaching out to our community for support during this difficult time,” the fundraiser says. “Your generous donation will go directly towards covering medical expenses and rebuilding our lives. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant difference.”