Friends of man whose home exploded asking for prayers, donations

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A home explosion severely burned a local man over the weekend. Friends of Caleb Hofmann have started a charity fund in his name to cover some medical expenses.

Caleb's friends Dan Bercot and Nathan Johnson said 85 percent of his body has been burned and he's left with practically nothing.

"It has been extremely difficult. The whole thing has been surreal. Like it doesn't seem real right now," Dan Bercot said.

On Saturday around noon, his home on Bayer Avenue exploded. 21-year-old Caleb Hofmann was inside. Investigators suspect there may have been a gas leak.  They believe he lit a match and that's when it ignited. Just hours before Caleb's friends were there visiting.

"Every spare second I have I'm always thinking about him. Thinking about what I could have done to get him out of there. Why didn't we realize gas was in there whatever was going on."

Dan Bercot's one of Caleb's friends. He believes his pilot light went out on his furnace downstairs. Gas built up down there and someone opened the door to the basement Saturday.

"That door got opened early Saturday morning and I think that allowed the gas to escape and start filling up the house. Candles and stuff had been lit Friday night and there was no problem there."

Caleb was supposed to be moving with his friend Nathan Johnson down to Bloomington. He was going to go to Indiana University in the fall to study business.

"It's just not how it's supposed to be. It's just going to be really hard living down there next year," Nathan Johnson said.

Now in Caleb's name they've started a charity fund to cover medical expenses.

"We just want all of the support we can get. All the prayers, every thing. If you can give whatever you can give will help with his family out a lot. I know it's going to be really expensive. Caleb has absolutely nothing now."

Their goal is to raise $3,000 to cover Caleb's medical expenses. Click here to follow the link to make a donation or share it with your family and friends.