Community Mourns Loss of Family in House Explosion

A house explosion in Douglas County over the weekend results in the deaths of four members of a family.

The reaction from the community is detailed below in a story by Bethany French, Ozarks First:

The Ava community is in mourning after a home explosion from propane killed four people. Salvador Haro, Silvia Haro, Salvador Jr. Haro, and a sixteen-year-old were all killed in the explosion.  

Members of the community gathered outside the Haro Brothers restaurant to mourn and remember.  

The Haro family is well-known in Southwest Missouri and many of them gathered today to pray and remember four members of their family who were killed on Saturday. 

“There are classmates of Alex. He was in high school. There was a he was in the marching band,” Tony Haro said. “And they all come from Spokane and something that we really, really will appreciate.” 

Tony Haro, Salvador’s brother, said his brother was a good man, and he was shocked when he heard the news. 

“He will be missed. There’s a lot of people that followed them over at the restaurant since they opened the restaurant,” said Tony Haro. “And, you know, this community just supported them, you know, because they’re great guys. You know, they’re great people, you know? He will be missed.” 

Douglas County Sheriff Chris Degase said he had never seen anything like the explosion at the family’s home near Goodhope. 

“The assumption then was is that something was either hooked up wrong or there was somehow the line was damaged,” Sheriff Degase said. “And then the propane settled to the lower portion of the residence in the basement.” 

Degase said this explosion comes with a lesson of caution when it comes to using propane in the home.   

“Err on the side of caution, I mean, if you smell propane, shut the tank off, get out, call it professional to look at it,” Degase said. 

Salvador’s brother Tony owns Tony’s place in Nixa. He said losing his brother, sister-in-law, and nephews is impossible to process.   

“He’s just a working man, a good father, a good community guy. You know,” said Haro. “He was an awesome guy and one of the best chefs I ever met in my life.” 

Haro said he still has a hard time believing these members of his family are gone, but he is thankful for the support of the community and his customers.  

“Thanks to all the community for being attached to us,” Haro said. “You know, and we are asking for prayers for all the family.”