The cause for an explosion and fire early Thursday morning at a Cole County business is under investigation.
Firefighters were called just after 4:30 a.m. to Xtreme Body & Paint on Lomo Drive, according to Regional West Fire Protection District reports.
The owner of the business had gone into the garage to get a tractor to plow snow. Shortly afterward, the explosion occurred.
The garage door was blown 90 feet away from the building, and propane gas got into a stormwater inlet in the parking lot, causing a fire there.
As firefighters left the Regional West Station in St. Martins, they could see flames coming from the area where the fire was reported. Cole County Fire Protection District firefighters were called to assist.
Initial reports indicated a gas leak underground at the business, and it was noted that the ground was saturated around the property.
Firefighters had the fire contained in about an hour, and no freezing of equipment or fire house lines was reported despite the freezing temperatures.
The business owner suffered burns and was taken to an area hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
An investigator from the business' insurance company was to try to determine a cause.