Fire station explodes near Chama

AN EXPLOSION AT A VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO KILLS THE RECENTLY RETIRED FIR...  More »

AN EXPLOSION AT A VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO KILLS THE RECENTLY RETIRED FIRE CHIEF. TONIGHT INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED IN BRAZOS -- WHICH IS JUST SOUTH OF CHAMA. SHELTON DODSON JOINS US ON THE PHONE FROM RIO ARRIBA COUNTY WITH TONIGHT'S TOP STORY. AFTER RETIRING FROM THE NAVY, MICHAEL HAYS BECAME THE CHIEF OF THE BRAZOS CANYON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. HERE'S WHAT THE FIRE STATION LOOKED LIKE WHEN HAYS WALKED IN AROUND NOON TODAY ... AND HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AFTER IT MYSTERIOUSLY EXPLODED. CHOPPER FOUR SHOWS ALL OF THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE BLAST. HAYS HAD JUST RESIGNED FROM THE CHIEF POST. WE SPOKE TO JON MUNSTOCK, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS TONIGHT ON THE PHONE. MUNSTOCK SAYS HAYS, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE MONA, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE BRAZOS CANYON FIRE DEPARTMENT. MUNSTOCK WAS DEVASTATED WHEN HE DROVE UP TO THE FIRE STATION SHORTLY AFTER THE EXPLOSION. 17:52:30 'Michael was seriously injured, but still alive, and of course that's the only thing that goes through your mind at that time, is just his well being of our chief.- 18'17:51:42 'he was just an all around giving type of person.-3' HAYS WAS TAKEN TO A CLINIC IN TIERRA AMARILLA, AND DIED A SHORT WHILE LATER. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW POWERFUL OF AN EXPLOSION THIS WAS .... THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE SINK THAT WAS INSIDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ... IT LANDED 100 FEET AWAY FROM THE STATION. THE SHERIFF OF RIO ARRIBA COUNTY SUSPECTS A GAS LEAK MAY BE TO BLAME, BUT THAT HASN'T BEEN CONFIRMED YET. THE FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE IS NOW INVESTIGATING. IN RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, SHELTON DODSON, EYWN4. TODAY THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS  « Less