SHAWNEE COUNTY — Three people are safe after an explosion destroyed their home while they were away.

Just after 10:30p.m. Thursday, fire crews responded to the home in the 1300 Block of High in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Michael Martin.

They found a home empty home “pretty much destroyed” by the explosion and accompanying fire.

Shawnee County appraisal records show the obliterated house was owned by Ashley Nadeau, who posted on Facebook saying she’s alive. Martin says the house’s three occupants, a man, woman and child left before the explosion, citing a natural gas smell.

Martin says four people from a neighboring house were taken to a hospital for minor injuries, and have since been released.

Preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be Accidental; associated with storm damage earlier in the day, according to Martin.

Estimated total dollar loss $100,000 in structural loss and $50,000 in content loss, according to Martin.

The Topeka Performing Arts Center has set up a GoFundMe page for Nadeau.