Sam Nabors was standing just inches away from his brother, James, Nabors when there was a flash of light and then a propane explosion that caused brick, glass, walls and blocks to tumble into a pile at a store on Ga. 20 near the Alabama line Tuesday morning.

James Nabors was treated and released from Floyd Medical Center after the explosion that took place at the intersection of Ga. 20 and Looney Road about 11 miles outside of Rome.

It was caused by the ignition of propane gas, according to Phil Langston, Rome-Floyd Fire Department battalion chief.

“We are not sure what caused the ignition,” Lang­ston said.

When firefighters arrived the windows in the front of the building were blown out, the glass scattered in the parking lot of the brick store, and the back of the building had collapsed.

But there was only a small fire, according to Langston. Firefighters called the fire marshal and Floyd County police investigators to the scene as they looked for a cause.

Sam Nabors said he smelled gas before the explosion and told his brother to shut off the gas line.

He was standing inches away from his brother as he attempted to shut off the gas line when the wall fell on him.

“It didn’t touch me,” Sam Nabors said. “It didn’t even burn my beard, I don’t reckon.”

Wendy Robinson, who lives in the house behind the store and identified herself as Sam Nabors’ girlfriend, said the explosion shook the house.

She opened her drapes to see what happened and saw James Nabors. “He was bleeding,” she said of James Nabors, “and I saw my boyfriend out here, and I was just scared they were hurt.”

The store sells a variety of items, Sam Nabors said, and scattered toys and novelty items could be seen through the shattered windows.

Posted 12:27 p.m.

One person was transported to the hospital after an explosion at Lynn's Place, a small store on Looney Road, around 11 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Police and firefighters responded to the scene to find the back of a small store on fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire but the back of the building was severely damaged. 

One witness, Sam Nabors, said he was working in the store and smelled gas shortly before a "flash" then his brother was knocked down. An ambulance took his brother James Nabors to the hospital with injuries. His condition is unavailable at this time.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Posted at 11:25 a.m.

Initial 911 reports indicate a propane tank explosion inside a home near the intersection of Alabama Highway and Looney Road. There is a report of one person injured and transported to the hospital.