A man was burned Sunday afternoon in an apparent natural gas explosion at his mobile home in Center Township.

CENTER TWP — A 42-year-old man was burned Sunday afternoon when an apparent natural gas explosion rocked his mobile home, authorities said.

Craig Hayden suffered “moderate burns” on his face and hands, and his hair was singed off, according to rescuers.

A medical helicopter flew him to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh. His condition was not immediately known.

Emergency crews and neighbors said the blast happened about 3:40 p.m. at Hayden's mobile home on Volkswood Drive, about one-half mile north of the Clearview Mall in Center Township.

“There was no fire,” said Nathan Wulff, chief of the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department, “but there was some heat damage inside.”

Next-door neighbor Louise Covey was eating supper when she heard the noise outside.

“It was a very loud explosion,” she said.

Covey stepped out of her home and saw Hayden. He was alone in the home.

“He came out his back door,” she said. “I could see he was burned, like flash burns. I told him to stay put. He was disoriented. He was walking around. He didn't know where he was.”

Another neighbor called 911. Unionville volunteer firefighters and a Butler Ambulance Service crew were quick on the scene and tended to Hayden.

“He had burn injuries pretty much where ever he had exposed skin,” Wulff said.

The fire department turned off the gas to the home and notified Peoples Gas.

An ambulance took Hayden to the nearby Unionville fire station at Route 8 and Mahood Road where a LifeFight helicopter landed before flying him to the West Penn Burn Center.

Neighbors said Hayden has lived at the mobile home for 10 years or so. His parents later showed up at the scene.

Wulff said the state police fire marshal has been notified. Police were unavailable for comment.