An explosion and fire in an Ames apartment has taken the life of the man who resided there.

Alex Saunders, 78, died Tuesday night in the burn unit at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

Saunders was transported to the burn unit from Mary Greeley Medical Center where his daughter, Jaime Saunders, had talked to him before he was put on a respirator.

“We had the opportunity to talk to him [at Mary Greeley],” said Bo Duckett, partner of Jaime Saunders. “He was able to talk to Jaime. It was really an excellent thing that he had lived through the blast.”

Saunders’ efficiency at 825 Wilson Ave. caught on fire after a natural gas explosion about 8:25 p.m. Monday. Saunders was sitting next to the wall-mounted furnace, Duckett said.

The explosion occurred from a natural gas leak around the furnace, said Paul Sandoval, deputy fire chief for the Ames Fire Department.

Saunders sustained third-degree burns that covered 50 percent of his body and respiratory tract damage.

Duckett said after the explosion Saunders went into the bathroom, where neighbors saw him and helped pull him out of the fire.

“I don’t even understand how he got out,” she said. “It’s just a miracle he had gotten out at all. We thought it was a gift that he had gotten out and was able to talk to us.”

Duckett was grateful to the neighbors who helped rescue Saunders and those who were concerned.

“I can’t tell you how good our neighborhood is over here,” she said. “Everyone was on the street and concerned.”

Saunders was a retired aerospace design engineer, Duckett said. He helped with design projects that went to the moon, along with several other projects on space shuttles.

Duckett said Saunders moved to Iowa seven years ago to live near Jaime.

“He was a grandpa that really spoiled his 7-year-old granddaughter rotten,” Duckett said.

Saunders’ efficiency was inspected by officials from the Ames Fire department, the State Fire Marshall’s office, the Ames Police Department and Alliant Energy.

Chris Schoenherr, spokesman for Alliant Energy of Iowa and Wisconsin, said the natural gas pipes leading to the furnace, which was determined as the source of the explosion and fire, were operating normally. He said there is no reason for neighbors to be concerned about their natural gas lines.

“Anytime anyone smells a natural gas odor, however, the person should get out of the house and call us from a neighbor’s house,” Schoenherr said. “We’ll come over right away.”

Adams Funeral Home, 502 Douglas Ave., is handling Saunders’ arrangements, which will be finalized today.