Nobody hurt in Whitefish explosion

A crew of construction workers were thanking their lucky stars Thursday morning after a large propane explosion shook Whitefish awake but left no injuries and minimal damage in its wake.

According to Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page, a malfunction in a propane heater allowed gas to fill up the basement of a new townhouse under construction on Stumptown Loop Road off State Park Road.

An electrical extension cord from the heater was connected to a power outlet outside. When crews arrived for work at 7:15 a.m. they plugged in the cord, which set off the explosion.

Construction worker Craig Calkins was standing just a few feet from the townhouse when the fireball went off. He said decking for the first floor of the home was ripped off and thrown about 30 feet into the air.

He said he felt the blast but it didn’t throw him or any of the other workers.