‘Like a bomb.’ House explosion that injured 3 in Thompson leaves neighbors stunned

Neighbor Taylor Kumar says the sound of the home at 14 James Place exploding sent her running for cover at around 12:30 p.m.

Carol Wilkinson and Lauren Pena

Oct 1, 2023, 1:47 PM

Updated 373 days ago

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Thompson residents say they are still in shock after a house exploded Saturday and injured three people.
Neighbor Taylor Kumar says the sound of the home at 14 James Place exploding sent her running for cover at around 12:30 p.m.
"It did feel like a bomb. Everything in the house went up, then down. I picked up my son, everybody was running, and I ran,” she said.
One neighbor told News 12 that he had to run into one of the next-door houses to help the occupants following the explosion.
"I was a couple of doors down, I heard a large explosion. We heard a little girl crying, 'Help me, help me.' I jumped inside and carried them out of there,” he said.
Three people were rushed to the hospital following the explosion. State police say an elderly neighbor also had to be hospitalized for health issues not directly related to the incident.
Crews also had to demolish what remained of the nearby houses at 12 and 16 James Place.
Investigators say the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. However, they say they do not rule out the possibility of a propane leak.