A couple who was illegally living in a Denton, Texas, self-storage unit were badly injured on Saturday when they caused a propane-bottle explosion and fire inside their space. The incident at Space Plus Self Storage also caused damage to 12 other units, according to sources.

Firefighters responded to 3309 Fort Worth Drive at 3:30 a.m. The blast happened as the man and woman were transferring propane between containers, according to investigators.

“They were inappropriately trying to fill one-pound propane bottles from a larger, 20-pound propane bottle,” said David Boots, spokesperson for the Denton Fire Department. “During that transfer, something happened, and the bottles blew up.”

The man is in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns. The woman is stable with first- and second-degree burns. No one else was injured.

Space Plus offers drive-up and vehicle storage.

Sources:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fire in Denton Sends Two People to Hospital, Destroys Multiple Self Storage Units
Denton Record-Chronicle, Two People Taken to Hospital After Fort Worth Drive Storage Unit Explosion, Fire