SEWARD COUNTY –The Kansas State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of an explosion and fire that critically injured three people on Tuesday in Seward County.

Just after 2:30pm Seward County Fire Rescue and Seward County EMS were dispatched to Groendyke Transport in the 2100 block of Highway 83, just South of Liberal for reports of explosion with victims, according to a media release.

Units arrived on scene to find a metal construction type commercial building with heavy smoke and fire showing. Units from Liberal City Fire Department, Turpin Fire Department, and Tyrone Fire Department assisted.

Units pulled back due to concerns of a larger explosion. Units then re-engaged the fire using foam.

Seward County Fire Chief Andrew Barkley says a propane or natural gas tanker inside a large metal building exploded and caught fire for still-undetermined reasons.

There were a total of four patients, including three transported to Southwest Medical Center with Critical Injuries and then flown to Wichita. One patient was treated for minor burns at the scene.

Highway 83 and Kansas Avenue were closed for a period of time and an evacuation order was issued for the surrounding area for approximately 2 hours.