Emergency crews find the body of victim killed in Cache Junction house explosion

Firefighters going through the rubble of a home explosion in Cache Junction, Mar. 9, 2023.

LOGAN — Firefighters located the body of an individual who died in Thursday night’s house explosion in Cache Junction. The victim was found just after midnight as emergency crews combed through a pile of debris that was left from the blast.

Home explosion near 5670 North SR-23 Cache Junction, Mar. 9, 2023.

Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Mikelshan Bartschi expressed condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones. He said it appeared the victim had perished during the explosion.

Firefighters and law enforcement were called to the home, near 5670 North SR-23, just before 6 p.m. Three individuals were inside the residence when it exploded.

Bartschi said the first units arrived on the scene within minutes. They located one person outside the home. A second person could be heard yelling for help inside what was left of the house.

Rescue units immediately transported the first occupant to Cache Valley Hospital. About 20 minutes later they successfully rescued the second resident from the ruble and transported them to Logan Regional Hospital. Both individuals were in critical condition.

A third individual was reportedly in the home’s kitchen when the explosion occurred but could not be located.

The first firefighters on the scene reported the home was demolished by the explosion and almost completely gone except for the foundation. Flames were also coming from the rubble.

Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the scene to extinguish the two alarm fire, including Newton Fire, Logan Fire, Clarkston Fire, Trenton Fire, Smithfield Fire, Lewiston Fire, Mendon Fire, Franklin County Idaho Fire, Cache County Fire, and the Cache County Sheriff’s Office. There were no fire hydrants nearby so several tender units were also dispatched to establish a water supply.

Deputies from the Cache County Sheriff’s Office shut down a portion of SR-23 in front of the home to give emergency crews space to battle the fire. No other nearby structures appeared to sustain any damage.

Bartschi said he couldn’t provide any details regarding the victims’ identities until deputies contact family members. The State Fire Marshal was called to help with the investigation to determine what caused the explosion.


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