Father, Daughter Injured When Gas Leak Causes Homer Glen House Explosion

(CBS) – First-responders were on the scene Thursday of a house explosion in southwest suburban Homer Glen.

The blast and resulting fire occurred around 4 p.m. in the 14100 block of South Parker Road in Homer Township, after a gas leak had been reported earlier in the day, authorities said at a news conference.

Two people with burn injuries -- a father and daughter inside the home -- were taken to Silver Cross Hospital and later airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center, a Will County official said.

Evacuations were underway for the immediate area of the blast -- a radius of half a mile -- because of the gas leak. Displaced residents were directed to take shelter at Home Glen Village Hall. About a dozen homes were affected.

Residents were asked to call Nicor for updates. It was expected to take several hours to cap the gas leak, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities closed some roads.