Explosion flattens Butler Co. home; Blast could be heard 20 miles away

An early morning explosion Monday leveled a Butler Co. home.

Butler Co. Sheriff Kelly Herzet says he doesn't believe anyone was home at the time - adding that the home was flattened. Neighbors said they heard the explosion 20 miles away. Dispatch there says the blast happened around 5:00 a.m.

Authorities have accounted for everyone in the homeowner's family. They don't live in Kansas and no one should have been in the house, Herzet says.

The windows were blown out of a home just east of the scene of the explosion, but no one was hurt. Herzet says debris was scattered across the road when crews arrived. There was also a small fire, which has been extinguished.

Herzet's office says they're investigating the incident as a crime to cover all bases. They've also deployed search dogs to make sure no one was in the home at the time.

Propane, electricity, and water in the home were reportedly all turned off.