Eastern Volunteer Fire Department photo The remains of a gas clothes dryer that exploded Thursday night when an 11-year-old boy placed a firework shell inside and ignited it.

The force of the explosion in the basement that followed was enough to raise the floor of the house more than a couple of inches, shatter glass and overturn furniture.

Fortunately, the young boy was not seriously injured.

However, he was admitted to Monroe County Hospital in Bloomington for observation for breathing difficulties.

Firefighters were on the scene of a house, occupied by the Tracy Thomas family, for more than five hours looking over damage trying to determine what happened.

The blaze on County Road 760N -- about seven miles northwest of Solsberry -- was reported to the Eastern Fire Department at 7:07 p.m.

When firefighters arrived on the scene white smoke was showing, according to Eastern Fire Department Assistant Chief Ryan Sparks.

"Initially, we thought there was a gas leak," he said.

Once inside the structure and after the smoke had cleared, Sparks and his fellow firefighters were amazed at what they saw.

The dryer had been moved more than five feet from its original location and the metal cylinder inside the dryer was bent almost straight, Sparks said.

"The force of the explosion in the basement took the roof (under the kitchen floor) and raised it one to two inches," Sparks said. "It shattered glass that was upstairs in the kitchen and turned chairs over. It was a very big explosion."

Initially, the boy, who is not being identified, told firefighters that he was using the dryer and it exploded. But when clothes were not found in the dryer his story changed early Friday morning when fire officials visited him at the hospital.

The boy told investigators that he was home alone and found the firework shell in his bedroom and just thought it was just a big firecracker.

Sparks pointed out that this is exact same size firework shell that is used by the Eastern Fire Department during its annual Independence Day celebration fireworks displays.

"He took it (the firework) to the dryer and used a barbecue skewer to light the shell. The boy was three to four feet away when it exploded," Sparks said. "He is very fortunate to be alive."

The firefighter continued, "He created a huge bomb. It was unbelievable to look at the damage that was done."

An Indiana State Fire Marshal's office field inspector was called to the scene early Friday to help determine the cause of the blaze and the origin of the explosions, Sparks said.

Six or eight other unexploded firework shells were confiscated from the boy's bedroom, Sparks pointed out.

Fire crews from Eastern, Center Township and Highland Township remained on the scene until 12:30 a.m. Friday.