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BELLEFONTAINE — An explosion destroyed a vacant house recently used as a doctor's office, hurling debris up to a half mile away and damaging windows of nearby buildings and cars.

The blast destroyed the structure at 1545 U.S. 68 North, said Bellefontaine Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom Weikert.

Callers first reported the explosion at 10:37 p.m. Wednesday, July 2.

"The building was completely destroyed from the explosion," Weikert said.

The State Fire Marshal's office said debris was found a half-mile away from the explosion.

Investigators were looking into whether the Wednesday night blast was linked to a propane tank on the property, utility service to the structure or was an intentional act, State Fire Marshal's office spokesman Shane Cartmill said Thursday.

The explosion knocked over a nearby van, damaged windows of a limousine and a nearby real estate business and forced the temporary closure of U.S. 68.

No one apparently was injured in the explosion or its aftermath, said Weikert.

The fire department is receiving assistance from the Ohio Fire Marshal's office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Ohio Highway Patrol in the investigation.

The single-family house was last used as an office by Dr. Matthew Hasford, a urologist. The office closed in February.