Explosion, fire levels home in Sampson County, leaving victim with severe burns

A fire and explosion in a mobile home this morning rocked a Sampson County community.

The fire was reported at a mobile home before 9 a.m. near Laurel Lane and Laurel Lake Road in Salemburg.

Officials said they received a call that some one was in the kitchen cooking and there was an explosion on Tucker Lane. When firefighters arrived, they saw evidence that showed an explosion had occurred.

The home was completely leveled. The damage was so bad a crane was being used to remove large pieces of the mobile home, which was completely scorched.

"It appeared the back wall of the house was somewhat blown out, and the house was leaning and pretty much on fire from one end to the other," said Scott Owen, the Sampson County Fire Chief.

Officials told WRAL News they located an injured victim about 30 to 40 feet away in the nearby woods. Investigators say they followed a blood trail from the mobile home to the wood line and that's how they were able to locate the victim.

The victim was taken by ambulance to the Salemburg Fire Department,than taken by helicopter to the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill. Officials said the person had severe burns over most of his body.