Officials with the Columbus Division of Fire are calling the historic Kelton House near downtown Columbus a "total loss" after a reported fire and gas leak Monday afternoon.
Columbus Division of Fire Assistant Chief Mike Secrist said firefighters received a call about a gas leak around 2:30 p.m.
While firefighters were entering the museum, located on East Town Street, there was an explosion in a back room used to host events. No injuries have been reported.
Secrist said fire officials believe the leak started in that back room. The fire then spread to the historic home鈥檚 attic. Flames could be seen shooting through the roof.
Most of the house's windows were blown out in the explosion.
Secrist called the damage "pretty significant, if not a total loss" because of both the fire and water damage.
It's not clear what led to the initial gas leak.
David Spence, who lives in the Townley Court apartments next to the Kelton House, said he was sitting at his desk working Monday afternoon.
"I heard three explosions, kinda muffled," Spence said. "But they were together, like 'boom, boom, boom."
Neighbor Teresa Dendy said the first two explosions were very loud and shook her building.
Spence said the loss of the Kelton House is a big one.
"Huge. There's a lot of history to this place, "
Spence said.
Dendy said, "The historic relevance of the building is important politically as well as architecturally."
The house was built in 1852 by Fernando Kelton and his wife, Sophia. At the time, the house was at the edge of the city. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Grace Kelton, a well-respected interior designer, was the last family member to live in the house. When she died in 1975, she deeded the house to the Junior League of Columbus, which has operated it as a museum since 1979.
The house held many Kelton family heirlooms and original furniture. It featured an underground railroad museum in the basement.
For more information about Kelton House, watch the video below:
