LINCOLN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A thunderous gas explosion sparked evacuations early Thursday morning.
Jodie and Denver Coulter are two of many who had to leave their home. The explosion sent flames hundreds of feet into the air around 1:20 a,m in the Moreland community. One woman was killed and six others were injured.
"It was like you were in the middle of a tornado, but it was a fire tornado and you really didn't know which way to run," said Jodie.
The Coulters ran, fearing for their lives but pushing forward until they reached the main road.
"You can feel the heat. It's like running towards you, like it's trying to catch up to you. I could feel the skin on my arms start to bubble," said Jodie.
She was treated for burns at the hospital. After she was released, the couple met up with family members at New Hope Baptist Church. There, they were joined by others who had to leave their homes.
New Hope Baptist Church provided the evacuees food, water, and a place to rest.
"If people need shelter, we can provide that. we've got some area here on our church property where we have beds and showers and things like that," said Pastor Jimmy Hazlett.
Many families will be able to go back to their still-standing homes. The explosion destroyed the Coulters' home, but the couple says they aren't focusing on what was lost and are instead, looking ahead to their next step, thankful to be alive.
"We can worry about all that stuff later. I’m just thankful that we got out of there, because it didn't look like we were going to get out," said Denver.
