CAPTION: From left, Evergy spokesperson Michael Burns, Kansas Gas Service spokesperson Lauren Clary and Hutchinson Fire Department Chief Steven Beer in Fire Station 1 brief the public about the gas explosion that destroyed Steffen’s Auto at Avenue E and Main Street Sat., Feb. 22, 2025
By Michael Glenn and Gina Long
As of 8 p.m. Saturday evening, no cause has been determined for a gas-related explosion that occurred near Ave. E and Main in Hutchinson Saturday morning.
Kansas Gas expects to work through the night to be able to restore gas service to as many residences as possible, which they hope to have completed tomorrow morning.
“We continue to monitor the area to make sure all our customers are safe,” Lauren Clay with Kansas Gas Service said.
Beer said there still are active flames as of 8 p.m. Saturday. Flames are 6 to 12 in, which is greatly reduced from the 5 to 8 ft from earlier. There is an active fire in the roadway from residual fuel in the gas lines.
As of 8 p.m. Saturday, fewer than 200 customers do not have gas. The Salvation Army, located at 700 North Walnut, has set up shelter for those without power or gas and will be open for as long as necessary.
Michael Burns of Evergy said that they were in the process of restoring power and that only about 30 to 40 residences were still without power as of about an hour prior to the news conference.
“We must get the go-ahead from Kansas Gas before we can restore power,” Burns said.
Chief Steven Beer of the Hutchinson Fire Department asked residents without gas and power to open their taps a trickle to keep the pipes from freezing. If people in the evacuation Zone need to go back to their homes, they can be escorted by a first responder to make sure that it’s safe.
The evacuation order around the explosion site is still in effect but the area has shrunk. It was originally established from Ave. A to Carey Park from Plum to Adams Street. It is now set from Ave. C just south of the tracks to Ave. F and from Walnut to Adams Street.
The most current info will be posted to the City of Hutchinson’s Facebook page. Updates will be posted there and all of the emergency contact numbers are also on the page.
“I asked people to reach out for support If they need their house checked, get medication, check on animals or need somewhere to stay,” Hutchinson Mayor Stacy Goss said. “Thank you to all of our mutual aid partners. We are grateful that there were no fatalities or injuries.”
South Main Street will be blocked off for the foreseeable future. The Woodie Seat Freeway is still scheduled to be closed Thursday, Feb. 27, for the beginning of its Phase II construction. Goss said that the date will be reevaluated if needed.
2/22, 7:00 p.m. update
Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer gave an update to the public about a gas-related explosion that occurred on the south side of Hutchinson Saturday morning.
“Steffen’s Auto Parts did explode and is basically a total loss,” Beer said. “There were numerous explosions due to multiple acetylene tanks and other automotive supplies being contained within the building.”
HFD responded to a gas odor near Ave. E and Main in Hutchinson when fire crews witnessed the building explode. All occupants of the building escaped before the explosion, and no one died in the event.
Beer said HFD does have a video of the explosion captured from a fire truck’s dashcam that will be released to the public in the coming days.
Beer said the explosion was not similar to the gas explosions that took place in Hutchinson in January 2001.
Every available HFD unit assisted with the containing of the fire, along with numerous other organizations.
Editor’s Note: More information about this incident will be released when available.
2/22, 12:30 pm.
An underground gas leak caused an explosion at Steffen’s Auto Parts on the northeast corner of Main Street and Avene E this morning.
Evacuations have been ordered from Avenue A to Avenue F and from Plum Street to Adams Street
The Salvation Army has opened a warming center in their building at 701 N Walnut Street.
Phillip West / February 22, 2025
Thanks letting us know. Keep up the good work.
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