Two Dead, One Injured in Ohio House Explosion as Investigation Continues

BETHEL, OHIO — A devastating house explosion in Bethel, a village in southwestern Ohio near Cincinnati, left two people dead and another hospitalized Tuesday morning. The explosion occurred shortly before 9 a.m. on Vic Joy Drive, sending debris flying across the neighborhood and setting the home ablaze.

The video linked in this article is from the WBNS 10TV YouTube page and features clips captured by Ring doorbell cameras from nearby houses. The video editing and presentation were done by WBNS and not by Cleveland 13 News. We are sharing this video to provide readers with accessible footage related to the incident.

The victims, identified only as a man and a woman, were found dead at the scene, according to Bethel-Tate Fire Chief Christopher Cooper. Their relationship remains unknown. The third victim, a heating repairman, sustained burn injuries and was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Chief Cooper confirmed that the injured man was coherent enough to speak with neighbors following the explosion. His current condition has not been disclosed.

Residents described the explosion as a powerful blast that shook their homes and caused minor damage to nearby properties. "I just heard a big boom, and I looked out the window and it was gone," one 911 caller reported.

Emergency crews from the Bethel-Tate Fire Department, with aid from four neighboring departments, worked for 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Chief Cooper stated that debris was scattered throughout the area, leaving the home reduced to smoldering remains. The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, which remains undetermined.

Early Wednesday morning, firefighters returned to the scene after a fire briefly rekindled. A toolbox containing clothes and papers, which appeared unaffected when crews cleared the area Tuesday night, reignited shortly before 6 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the flames and cleared the site again within 35 minutes.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established by a relative of one of the victims to cover cremation expenses. The names of the victims have not yet been released as authorities continue their investigation into the incident.