The Hays County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating what caused a Kyle-area barn to explode last week.
It happened on Wednesday, Nov. 27 in the 3800 block of Dacy Lane.
Responding agencies included the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the Kyle Fire Department and EMS. Kyle Fire Chief Kyle Taylor said his department sent nine firefighters to the fire call, which came out shortly past 10 a.m.
Taylor said a man was using a smoker to cook a turkey inside the barn prior to the explosion and fire, which he said also destroyed an RV or camper that was parked in the barn. Other reports indicated neighbors saw a plume of black smoke; and Austin TV station KXAN initially said the man had been frying a turkey.
“It was just a smoker that started a little fire,” Taylor said. “No residences burned, nobody was displaced.” He could not confirm reports that a chicken died in the explosion and fire, which is believed to have been started after a propane tank ignited.
Hays County Fire Marshal Scott Raven refused to comment on the investigation Monday, saying one of his office’s six investigators had the case, and that a written report would be released when the investigation ends, except in the event some criminal act is discovered. If that happens, Raven would send the case to the office of District Attorney Wes Mau.
Taylor said that even though the report from the fire marshal’s office has not been completed, it looks to have been accidental in origin. He characterized the investigation as “normal, pretty much.”
