A man is in serious condition in a Minneapolis-area burn hospital after a weekend explosion inside a house in the southeastern North Dakota town of Sanborn.

According to Barnes County authorities, Terry Johnson was in his basement trying to light his water heater when the blast occurred Saturday. They say gas must have built up in the house after the water heater's pilot light went out.

The blast blew out part of the basement and a wall in the house. Johnson suffered burns to his face, hands and legs.