Oven explodes after gas leak

Published 10:58 am Thursday, May 19, 2011

A Grand Meadow woman got a not-so-pleasant surprise while she was cooking Wednesday evening — her stove exploded.

Buffy Jo Bathke, 35, told Mower County Sheriff’s deputies she smelled gas in her home almost at the exact moment the stove erupted into flames.

Sheriff Terese Amazi said the flash fire was caused by a leaking gas line. The gas line and the stove were destroyed in the fire. Amazi said the damage is estimated at $100.

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Bathke is a tenant in the home, located onthe 25300 770th Avenue in rural Grand Meadow. Carl Nielsen is the owner.

The fire happened around 5:10 p.m. Wednesday evening.