Explosion rocks Murray State University

What follows is a firsthand report from Matt Hux, Correspondent for Lima Charlie News, who was working in Paducah, KY and witnessed the explosion live.

Murray, KY – At 1653 hours on Wednesday a loud explosion, followed by a shockwave, rocked the campus grounds of Murray State University. A large tan colored smoke plume rose from the campus grounds and dissipated within thirty minutes with no residual color. I have witnessed more than a few fires and explosions during my career as an active duty first responder, and was pleased to see neither color changes or flashes to signify electrical fire or chemicals.

The smoke from the explosion obscured visibility in the immediate area and dropped a deposit of what appeared to be building insulation. Once that cleared there was no residual smoke rising from the location. Others at the nearby hotel sheltered in place for safety and from my vantage I witnessed students evacuating the gymnasium and fleeing the scene.

Police and other first responders arrived within minutes and did an effective job managing the scene and keeping people calm and away from the blast site. After a short time speaking with natives of Murray, among them a former student, we determined that the explosion must have been at Richmond Hall on campus, which was later confirmed by the school.

Murray State University dorm has suffered extensive damage and could be a total loss after explosion. pic.twitter.com/7lRg32zbf6

— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) June 29, 2017

Witnesses on scene were told there was a gas rupture and exactly how it happened has not been determined. Richmond Hall sustained heavy damage and it was reported that the bottom two floors were destroyed. Law enforcement officials on the scene reported to surrounding hotels that the building is not expected to remain standing much longer due to heavy damage from the blast.

The Calloway County Emergency Management Director spoke within an hour of the blast, and told local news there was a gas leak at the newly built Richmond dorm. However, Kentucky State Police said they are not ready to confirm for sure it was a gas explosion. A Murray-Calloway County Hospital official confirmed to local news that one person was injured and transported from the scene. Everyone in the vicinity has been told the college is being treated as an active scene and everyone is asked to stay away until an all clear has been given.

UPDATE:

Matthew Hux, Lima Charlie News

Matthew Hux, is a contributing writer with Lima Charlie News, and is an active duty Chief Boatswain’s Mate in the US Coast Guard. Matthew has served in many mission sets from Aids to Navigation, Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue. Chief Hux was a responder in New Orleans for the Hurricane Katrina response. Matthew is a contributing sports writer and has the dubious misfortune of being a super fan of struggling sports franchises such as the Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Braves and Carolina Hurricanes. The views expressed by Matthew are his own and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Commandant or of the U.S. Coast Guard.

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