A Longmont couple continues to recover in the intensive care unit nearly three weeks after a natural gas explosion destroyed their manufactured home and left them with severe burns.
Jeremy Irving and his wife Michelle have been hospitalized since the morning of August 8, when their residence in the 500 block of 15th Avenue exploded. According to Alan Irving, the couple’s uncle, they both suffered severe burns covering more than 75% of their bodies. Their two husky dogs, Bandit and Smokey, survived but were seriously injured. Irving started a GoFundMe to collect funds for his niece and nephew to cover the costs of medical bills, vet bills, and replacement of items lost in the fire.
Fire crews from Longmont Public Safety responded to the scene at approximately 8:04 a.m. that Saturday, extinguished the flames, and shut off the gas supply. The cause of the leak is still under investigation, but City spokesperson Robin Ericson said a natural gas leak was the cause. Xcel Energy stated that fire officials believe the incident was linked to the customer’s fuel line rather than utility equipment. According to first responders, the homeowner had been working on a water heater in the days leading up to the explosion. The couple reportedly smelled gasoline and were trying to leave the home when the explosion happened…