KIAMESHA LAKE — The home explosion in Kiamesha Lake at Patio Homes, which resulted in the destruction of homes and left three individuals critically injured, was caused by a propane leak, according to the New York State Police. 

Those three individuals in critical condition are Robert McDowell, aged 36, Jessie Mackerley, aged 5, and Savanah Mackerley, aged 9. 

According to Shannon Mackerley, the aunt of Jessie and Savanah, as of Sunday, October 8, all three victims are now conscious and on the path to recovery. She shared that they are currently able to communicate, eat, and are making progress.

However, Mackerley also said that the road to full recovery is a long one. The survivors will have to endure additional surgeries, physical therapy sessions, rehabilitation, and follow-up medical assessments. 

She stated that there is no talk of their release from medical care at this time, as they are still in the assessment stages for their burn injuries. 

“They have made significant progress over the last week; however, there is so much longer to go,” said Mackerley.

Breanna Smith, a resident of Patio Home in Kiamesha Lake, shared her firsthand experience of the terrifying incident. She was taking a nap with her two-year-old son when the gas explosion occurred, causing widespread destruction and chaos.

“I looked out the window, I saw just a bunch of insulation and stuff falling from the sky. I looked in front of me and I saw that basically the house is just torn right in half,” said Smith. 

Smith’s son was sleeping on the opposite side of the bed and escaped unharmed when her window shattered due to the explosion. Currently, they await an inspection by their insurance company to assess the structural damage to their building, which appears to be significant.

At the Thompson Town Board meeting on October 3, the board declared several homes unsafe due to the blast and scheduled a public hearing for November 21 at 7 p.m. at the Thompson Town Hall. 

When a property is declared unsafe, as per the town code, it necessitates either repair if it can be done safely or demolition and removal if it poses a danger.

Bill Rieber Jr., the Town Supervisor, described the extensive debris field left in the wake of the explosion. It included large sheets of plywood, rafters, and metal aluminum scattered over a considerable distance, with some debris located several hundred feet away from the house where the explosion originated.

The homes deemed unsafe by the town of Thompson are as follows:

• 13 Laura Lane
• 9 Laura Lane
• 11 Laura Lane
• 8 James Place
• 12 James Place
• 14 James Place
• 16 James Place

Rieber previously told the Democrat that he had never seen damage like this in the five decades he has been involved with the fire service.