COLUMBUS, Ohio — The historic Kelton House Museum was severely damaged Monday afternoon after a gas leak led to a "catastrophic" explosion and fire, leaving much of the Columbus community heartbroken.

Firefighters worked for hours to put out the flames and salvage what they could from the 170-year-old home on East Town Street.

“Our guys did their best. They did pull a lot of artifacts and stuff out of this building due to this historical significance," said Columbus Fire Assistant Chief Mike Secrist. "Obviously, couldn’t get everything, but they did their best to make sure everyone was safe and also do some property documentation."

The Kelton House was once a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Built in 1852 by Fernando Cortez Kelton, the house served as a refuge for enslaved people

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