A Homer man died Tuesday in a water heater explosion, said Ken Marsh, a spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers.
Investigators were called to check on 68-year-old Gary Thomas when his wife reported him overdue just after 11 p.m., according to an online alert. Homer police and Thomas’ friends tracked his phone to an area near Cottonwood Hill Avenue and East End Road, troopers wrote.
His vehicle was found outside a home, and Homer police said he was dead inside. Troopers said they believe he was fatally injured in a water heater explosion. Troopers said it is unclear what caused the explosion.
Thomas was deeply involved in the Homer community, said Kathleen Gustafson, interim news director at Homer’s public radio station KBBI. He was a founding member of KBBI and was the general manager from 1980 to 1991. Thomas was later the editor and publisher of the town’s weekly newspaper, the Homer News.