Hutchinson, United States - February 24, 2025 A quiet Saturday morning in downtown Hutchinson turned into a scene of chaos when a gas explosion ripped through Steffens Auto Parts at 428 S. Main, sending firefighters sprinting for their lives, a heart-pounding moment captured on dashcam video. The blast, triggered by a leaking 10-inch natural gas line, erupted just after 9:26 a.m., moments after crews arrived to investigate reports of a gas odor. “Upon arrival, crews witnessed the building exploded,” Fire Chief Steven Beer said in a news release shortly after 1 p.m. Miraculously, everyone inside, including owner Darin Clifford, escaped unharmed, with one Facebook user noting her family member “evacuated just before it blew up.” The explosion unleashed a gas-fed inferno that consumed the longtime auto parts store, leaving the street and sidewalk ablaze even as firefighters controlled the main fire. “The street and sidewalk remain on fire due to the gas leak,” Beer explained, noting crews shifted to a defensive stance, deploying unmanned freestreams to battle the flames. Video and photos circulating online show water lines snaking across the scene, a desperate attempt to tame the unrelenting blaze. Tony Hernandez, a local who recorded the fire, described a chilling detail: “I could smell gas and could see a gas line burning in front of the store. It smelled like propane.” By 11:50 a.m., the city of Hutchinson sounded the alarm, ordering an immediate evacuation of several blocks from Avenue A to Avenue F and Plum to Adams. “All residents and businesses within these boundaries are urged to evacuate immediately for their safety,” the city announced on Facebook, with Beer warning the danger zone could widen. The odorized gas, seeping from the ruptured line, kept officials on edge as the situation unfolded. By Sunday morning, some relief emerged as the Hutchinson Fire Department and Kansas Gas allowed certain residents back into their homes. Yet, the crisis lingers for others. “Currently there are 18 businesses and 1 residential home without gas service,” the fire department reported, adding that Kansas Gas would maintain a strong presence for days to remedy the situation. The evacuation area has shrunk but remains critical, now confined to Main Street from D Avenue down to G Avenue, including one block east and west of Main on E Avenue, plus a lone home at 11 East F Avenue. As officials continue to monitor the site, the smoldering aftermath of Saturday’s explosion serves as a stark reminder of the volatility beneath Hutchinson’s streets. With the gas line still a concern, the community holds its breath, awaiting a full return to normalcy.