NEGAUNEE -- A propane explosion at the Snyder Drug Store in Negaunee could have been a lot worse than it was.

A propane tank on the back of a fork-lift inside the drug store garage was the cause.  A hose to the propane tank was leaking, and the gas ignited, possibly from a spark from a space heater.

An employee checking on the situation was in the garage when the tank exploded.  Derek Gephardt was able to grab a fire extinguisher and put out a small fire.

"This was a potential dangerous situation because if the gas leak had gone unnoticed, while the forklift was parked in the back garage, as I said, there's a gas space heater in the garage that could have possibly ignited the gas and set the whole building ablaze," says Tom Gardyko, Fire Chief for Negaunee.

Gephardt suffered minor injuries.  He was treated and released on the scene.

The drug store had to be aired out due to the smell of gas.