Explosion Rocks Iowa Farmhouse

BURZLAFF

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/14/2013 at 21:02:36

Rockford Star, May 12, 1981

EXPLOSION ROCKS IOWA FARMHOUSE; 23 INJURED

DEWITT, Iowa(AP)- About 23 people were injured Monday night in an explosion and fire northwest of DeWitt, a spokesman for the Clinton County Sheriff's office said. "To our knowledge there are no fatalities," the Sheriff's dispatcher said.

The explosion occurred at the Donald Burzlaff farm in the community of Bliedorn during a 4H Club meeting. Bliedorn is located west of Clinton in eastern Iowa. Eleven of the injured, reportedly mostly children, were taken to DeWitt Community Hospital. Another 12 were taken to the Jackson County Hospital in Maquoketa. Grand Mound Fire Chief Meryl Haack said there were 32 people in the house when the explosion occurred. "As of right now they are all accounted for," he said.

Most of the people were in the living room, dining room and kichen area, but two of the Burzlaff children were upstairs at the time of the blast. Authorities said the group had gathered at the two story frame farmhouse for the regular monthly meeting of the Grant Modern Farmers 4H Club.